Social media video shows Bellingham homeless camp that burned
A large fire destroyed tents and other property at a homeless encampment in Bellingham last week that is the focus of an ongoing lawsuit filed by the city against the property owner.
Around 5 a.m. Friday, Jan. 6, the Bellingham Police Department and Bellingham Fire Department responded to the fire at 4049 Deemer Road where at least 40 unhoused people live in an encampment on private property behind WinCo Foods.
An investigation found the fire was caused by a person in the encampment lighting a torch and catching a tent on fire, according to Bellingham Police Lt. Claudia Murphy.
“The fire spread through the illegal encampment causing a massive fire and damaging a significant amount of property,” Murphy said in an email to The Bellingham Herald.
No injuries were reported at the time of the fire and none were known of by Tuesday morning, Jan. 10, Murphy told The Herald.
The fire was put out but nobody living in the encampment was willing to provide details about the incident or describe the person who started the fire, according to Murphy.
The city of Bellingham is suing the owner of the property where the encampment is, saying they are causing a public nuisance by not removing the encampment. A city inspection of the property determined it to be unsafe, in violation of the state’s public health code and detrimental to neighboring businesses and the public because it’s overrun with garbage, waste, rodents and non-operating motor vehicles, according to court documents.
This story was originally published January 11, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
