VIDEO/PHOTOS: New data released Tuesday by the Seattle Fire Department shows the city’s fire crews responded to 1,538 encampment fires during 2022, averaging 128 a month.
The data reflects a slight increase from 2021, when Seattle Fire recorded 1,446 fires at encampments, and 854 in 2020.
On Monday, KOMO News reported on an encampment fire in South Lake Union where wooden structures and tents burned. Seattle 911 data shows it was the fifth time an encampment fire had been reported on the block since August 2021.
“I think the city needs to really take accountability," said John Marino, who lives near the encampment that burned. "They need to be responsible and clean this up immediately. We live here, we’re concerned and by allowing this to continue it’s getting worse.”
Members of the Seattle Fire Fighters Union IAFF Local 27 told city leadership last year that firefighters were reporting being assaulted at encampment fires, including cases of being threatened with weapons.