Firefighters with the Seattle Fire Department responded to an encampment fire along northbound Interstate 5 in the area of Beacon Hill on Thursday afternoon, according to video from the scene.
At 2:32 p.m., crews responded to the fire on the east side of northbound I-5, near the Spokane Street exit.
Due to heavy smoke, drivers were asked to slow down as they approached the area.
By 3 p.m., firefighters had the fire under control.
In a statement to KIRO 7, the Washington State Department of Transportation said that homelessness is “a complex issue with no easy solutions that requires a coordinated approach for the safety of those who are in need, nearby residents, the traveling public and our workers who must access sites for inspections and repairs. In addition, access to resources that can make a difference are key in outreach to people living on right of ways or roadsides.”
WSDOT said there are four actions that allow encampments to be removed from rights of way:
- The offering of shelter and services to people living there.
- Storage of their belongings.
- Safety and security for people on site and work crews.
- Restoration and cleanup of the property.
Local resident Quincy Quigg said fires like this are nothing new.
“In this neighborhood I would say a couple a month, especially during the winter times,” Quigg said. “I know it’s cold out and these people are trying to stay warm. A propane tank could get knocked over. Sometimes they might be asleep and surrounded by cardboard, plastic, highly flammable stuff.”