Seattle firefighters union says sweeps of homeless camps should continue

Seattle’s firefighters union is pushing back against a proposal from councilmember Kshama Sawant to end sweeps of unauthorized homeless camps.

Sawant says it’s about human rights, but firefighters say it's an issue of public health.

Firefighters recalled a day in April when flames broke out at a homeless camp under the West Seattle Bridge.

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Lieutenant Kenny Stuart says firefighters often have to navigate through used needles and trash.

“There are unsafe, unhealthy and unsanitary conditions. Biohazards, contaminants and even assaults,” said Stuart.

Firefighters have to climb hills and go off paths to find a homeless person who needs help.

“Seattle firefighters want to protect and take care of our homeless and their belongings as well,” said Stuart.

But after responding to hundreds of calls from unauthorized camps week after week, Stuart says something needs to change.

“Removing people from these unauthorized encampments is the right thing to do. It’s unconscionable that we would leave our citizens in the living conditions that we see,” said Stuart.

Stuart encourages sweeping homeless camps, which seem to be popping up everywhere around Seattle.

The city did a sweep of more than 20 camps since August by sending navigation teams to offer housing and mental health services.

But when discussing next year’s budget, Seattle councilmember Sawant proposed ending the sweeps. She says the city needs to guarantee rights for the homeless first.

Stuart responded on behalf of the firefighters union, stating that no sweeps means greater "medical and fire emergencies for our most vulnerable residents."

In 2016, the city performed more than 600 sweeps, which raised concern about the sweeps and how they were impacting the city's homeless population.

Cox Media Group