Seattle police and fire officials met with Greenwood neighbors and business owners Tuesday night to address questions and concerns about 14 fires set in North Seattle over the last few months.
The string of costly blazes has rattled the nerves of the community, and while the city has thrown a number of resources at the problem—stepping up patrols and conducting surveillance on suspicious characters in the neighborhood—it appears police aren't any closer to making an arrest, as city officials admitted that they do not yet know if the fires are the work of a single arsonist or multiple firebugs.
Beginning in June, North Seattle essentially became kindling for at least one arsonist, who has set a series of blazes across the northwest part of the Seattle—between N. 98th St., and NW 77th St., and Meridian Ave and 7th Ave NW—which have shuttered a number of businesses and done millions of dollars in damage.
The fires have become increasingly frequent—three blazes were set in Greenwood Sunday night and Monday morning—and Tuesday's meeting drew in about 800 attendees, as well as a number of local politicos, including state rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, council members Nick Licata and Jean Godden, and Mayor-Elect Mike McGinn.
At the meeting—held in the basement of the Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church—police were cagey on details of the investigation, providing few details about potential suspects and materials used to fuel the fires. All police would say was that all the fires were started with "common combustibles." However, in one case, fuel had been brought to an arson site from a mile away, officials said. Police and fire officials said they do not yet have a profile of the suspect or suspects.
For residents of the area, Tuesday's meeting provided few answers, but seemed to offer some form of psychic relief. However, there was an obvious sense of tension at the meeting, most notable during a testy Q&A session with city officials. Neighbors inquiries about ways to deter arsons ranged from the earnest (can we get burned out street lights fixed?) to irked (homeless people living in RV's in the area are part of the problem!). Officials refused to answer a question from a neighborhood resident regarding whether or not fire accelerants have been used.
Neighbors expressed feelings of helplessness and asked city officials what they could do to help fight the fires. However, officials, including Fire Marshall John Nelson, cautioned the community to not use vigilante tactics in their neighborhood watches and arson patrols.
"There's a limit to what a community can do," he said. "The important thing is keeping you eyes and ears open -- and then calling the police with the information."
The city did provide a few recommendations:
- Call 206-206-684-CITY to report any burned out street lights. Be sure provide the light pole number to city officials so that work crews can locate it.
- Keep dumpsters away from building walls and low overhangs; a dumpster fire can quickly spread up the sides of a building.
- Make sure your smoke detectors have fresh batteries and work properly
- Business owners should not let waste materials accumulate or sit in the open. Business owners and apartment dwellers should make sure that their dumpsters are padlocked closed.
- Get a fire extinguisher, but if you spot a fire, call the department first before tending to it.
Commercial waste and recycling contractors will also be working on an "enhanced pickup" schedule to make sure potential flammable materials do not accumulate outside of homes and businesses in the Greenwood area while an arsonist is on the loose.
