SEATTLE — Seattle city leaders are concerned over the amount of human and animal waste likely flowing into and blocking drainage pipes leading to the Duwamish River.
Since a shooting on Jan. 26 killed two people and injured three others there, various city agencies have done a full assessment of the 150-acre encampment stretching across three miles under Interstate 5.
The photos they took show large numbers of propane tanks, human feces, urine in bottles, and makeshift outhouses.
Staff counted about 200 tents and about 400 people living there.
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Speaking in particular about the number of propane tanks found, Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins told KIRO 7, “It’s a public safety risk, and I think we all have seen some of the fires over the years that have been visible from Interstate 5.”
Scoggins said his crews don’t go into the Jungle without first doing an assessment for safety. Sometimes, that means waiting for Seattle police to assist them.
Rick Kyper has seen one of the fires produce flames shooting from down the hill to above his neighbor’s roof in Beacon Hill.
“I’m not sure if it was a propane tank or they were making something illicit, but you could hear little ‘ping, ping, ping’ from bullets going off in the fire,” Kyper said.
It does not surprise him to hear about the human waste and contamination.
“I have found needles, I found guns, we have found – my German shepherd found about $2,500 in heroin. Twice,” Kyper said.
Seattle Public Utilities shared a map, showing that water from the Jungle flows through Washington State Department of Transportation drainage pipes, then meet with city of Seattle pipes to flow into the Duwamish River.
But they have found some of the infrastructure is blocked by the waste and garbage, leaving buckets of feces next to drainage systems.
Kyper said he feels the state needs to become more aware and more proactive in its approach.
A map detailing the area shows most of the land is owned by the state, while some pockets are owned by the city of Seattle.
Many stakeholders are now being called together, and Seattle Council President Bruce Harrell hopes there may be state funding to help solve the problem.
“We’re forming a solution, and we’re looking at funding options, and that’s why I personally wanted to bring this discussion to the council, so when we look at our budget for the next year, this becomes an investment strategy,” Harrell said.
Over the next two weeks, he said they will form ideas, which may include cleaning up the area, bringing the people into housing or making the place more habitable.
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