Crews respond to fire in vacant south Seattle building for 2nd time in a month

Early Wednesday morning, Seattle Fire Department crews responded to a vacant building fire on the 2400 block of S. Walker St. , the second fire at this location in a month. Firefighters arrived on the scene around 2:15 a. m.

and brought the fire under control by 2:40 a. m. , with the fire officially extinguished by 3:15 a. m. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The battalion chief indicated that the site is well-known to firefighters, with considerable homeless activity observed outside the building. This incident underscores a growing concern in Seattle regarding vacant and derelict buildings, which have been linked to a rising number of fires. In June, Mayor Brice Harrell enacted an ordinance allowing the SFD to order the demolition of unsafe structures to enhance public safety. Data reveals a troubling trend, with 130 vacant building fires reported in 2023 alone, compared to 91 in 2022. The ongoing challenges posed by these vacant buildings compel the city to seek solutions that balance safety and community welfare.