Seattle Fire Department reports over 900 homeless encampment fires since start of the year

The city of Seattle has exceeded last year's record-breaking number of homeless encampment fires that have since cultivated an extreme risk to public safety throughout the city. According to the Seattle Fire Department, over 900 encampment fires have been recorded this year alone, up from 2020's recorded number of 825.

To compare, there were a recorded number of 520 encampment fires in 2019, according to data from the Seattle Fire Department.

As a result of the shocking increase in number of encampment fires, the Seattle Fire Department told The Post Millennial that SFD added a new code for dispatch to better improve the way they track fires that stem from homeless encampments.

"In order for us to better track our responses to homeless encampments, we have added in new dispatch type codes that list "encampment" if this information is known when someone calls 911 to report it," Seattle Fire said in an email.

"Crews can also change the type code from a regular type code by contacting dispatch once they arrive on scene if its an encampment. In addition to tracking, it also gives responding crews improved situational awareness that the response is at an encampment location," Seattle Fire continued. "This was a department decision to change the type codes so we could improve our tracking mechanism for encampment responses."

According to KOMO News, the Seattle Fire Department has responded to over 60 encampment fires in the last two weeks alone.

In addition, sources inside the Washington State government told The Post Millennial that the encampment fires in green spaces are being classified as "forest fires." Multiple requests for comment from various levels of government, including the Public Lands Commissioner regarding the clasification have not been answered.

Seattle's homeless encampments continue to ravage communities throughout the city. Last week, protests erupted throughout Seattle communities that have been severely affected by the dangers of the encampments. Seattle's taxpayer funded parks have been overrun by vagrants, which have resulted in the city shutting down the parks for residents to use. However, in response to the protests, city officials said changes aren't to be expected anytime in the near future.

"What the city is doing, what this guy is doing, is not working," concerned parent Jeff Lindstrom told KOMO News. "I just want my kids to be safe and to be able to come to the park."

Another concerned resident protesting the city's lack of intervention told KOMO, "Our city elected leaders have failed to really implement any sort of meaningful program to help the homeless. We really want the Seattle City Council to help the homeless people and also their commitment to all of us to keep the parks safe and open."

In August, fed-up Seattle businesses and residents were fined by the city for attempting to prevent homeless vagrants from camping in front of their private property by placing cement blocks near the road. After community organizing efforts and meetings with city officials to discuss the homeless crisis impeding on livelihoods, Seattle city leaders failed to take action to help their constituents.

In wake of the popular democratic "Defund The Police" movement, Seattle City Council voted to abolish Seattle PD's Navigation Team, a group of officers designated to police encampments despite Seattle's skyrocketing increase in criminal activity. Encampments continue to be at the height of crime in the city as they often bring criminals and drug addicts to communities.