Thanks to a reader for this picture from the scene
Three vehicles engulfed in flame in front of a residence at 24th and Spring drew a large Seattle Fire response Monday just after noon.
Seattle Fire was called to the area just before 12:30 PM to a report of vehicles on fire. Arriving units battled the blaze which burned hot enough to crack windows on the home but did not spread to the structure.
It took crews around 20 minutes to snuff the flames. No injuries were reported and searches of the vehicles including a van that neighbors said was being used to camp in fortunately turned up no victims.
The property where the fire occurred has been part of a federal civil rights lawsuit brought by longtime neighborhood activist Omari Tahir-Garrett against a large roster including the the family partnership behind the Midtown Center property, Kshama Sawant, and Seattle City Light after utilities were cut off. The property is home to his UMOJA P.E.A.C.E Center.
Sunday night, CHS reported on a community meeting this week to discuss plans for a seven-story development to fill the Midtown block including the 24th and Spring property. In September, CHS found campers from 24th and Spring lined up to sign agreements to move off the land and never return. Some of the homeless residents told CHS they had been paid $400 to leave the camp and sign the agreement.
Seattle Fire did not immediately dispatch the Seattle Fire Marshal to investigate Monday’s blaze. A Seattle City Light crew was called to the scene to secure the site following the fire. Red Cross was called to help provide assistance for an adult male victim of the fire.
UPDATE: A Seattle Fire spokesperson reports the cause is believed to have been “misuse of electrical equipment (hotplate) inside of a car.”
This paragraph was gory… anyone able to decipher it?:
The property where the fire occurred has been part of a federal civil rights lawsuit brought by longtime neighborhood activist Omari Tahir-Garrett against a large roster including the the family partnership behind the Midtown Center property, Kshama Sawant, and Seattle City Light after utilities were cut off. The property is home to his UMOJA P.E.A.C.E Center.
The situation is a little crazy, so it makes sense that it would be hard to decipher…
Mr Tahir-Garrett has lived on that property for quite a long time now, under some kind of handshake/no-rent/property-cleanup deal with Tom Bangasser who managed the Midtown property. When Tom Bangasser was removed from the board, the family evicted Mr. Tahir-Garrett, who in turn filed suit against… well… see above. (Mr. Tahir-Garrett is not one for half-measures when it comes to filing quixotic lawsuits.)
(He also moved a homeless camp onto his property during the summer, leading to a giant pile of garbage on the front lawn that probably didn’t help firefighters much.)
The fire like it was right in the middle of his annual pop-up Christmas tree lot, as well…
What Xig said. He’s been throwing legal roadblocks at his eviction for months without any real legal leg to stand on, he’s nothing but a nuisance.
Does he even have a license for the xmas tree business? That property is a trash covered blight on the neighborhood, I’d like to know why it’s taken so long to get it cleaned up. I certainly wouldn’t take my kids there to buy a tree.
No where have I seen it stated that Garrett OWNS this property.If he does’nt then he is a tresspaser,squatter.
Can’t say as I blame Tahir-Garrett for trying. If any of you were evicted by a new landlord, would you fight it, or quietly pack your things and leave? The laws are on the landlord’s side, but at least you can get time.
We live across the street and called the fire department at the start of the fire. FYI to all neighbors: the fire hydrant was tapped and has created brown murky water in our house. City has informed us it will clear up in about 4 hours. You are encouraged to run water for 3-10 minutes collecting the contaminated water and dispose of it via toilet. Minimal water use between now and then. Take care everyone.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), most fire deaths are the result of smoke inhalation rather than burns.
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/smoke_inhalation_is_the_most_common_cause_of_death_in_house_fires
this fire involved dangerous plastics and toxins. monitor your symptoms.