Seattle Police responded to assist the Seattle Fire Department by keeping the scene safe while they extinguished an encampment fire in the Chinatown International District Thursday afternoon.*
Officers arrived just after 01:00 p.m. near the intersection of 7th Avenue South and South Main Street. Once the fire was controlled, police searched the area for injured people but located no one. Officers were contacted by SFD personnel on scene who located burnt cash and two safes found around where the fire occurred.
During the search for injured people, police came across multiple guns, narcotics, cash and other evidence of criminal activity. Officers obtained a search warrant to recover the following items from tents and the surrounding area:
- Four realistic looking BB guns
- Two revolvers
- 164.7 grams of fentanyl
- 59.8 grams of fentanyl powder
- 21.6 grams of crack cocaine
- 42.8 grams of methamphetamine
- Surveillance equipment
- EBT cards and other documents
- Approximately $7,000.00 in cash
Police discovered information of potential suspects connected to the criminal evidence but did not locate any suspects at this time. It appears in the preliminary investigation the fire may have been caused by elements of a methamphetamine lab.
If you have any information about this incident, please contact SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.
*Updated for clarity 02/10/2023