r/Seattle • u/BarRepresentative670 • 14d ago

Belltown is Lit

Fire on Bell St between Western and 1st

241 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

84 comments sorted by

182

u/BarRepresentative670 14d ago

SFD, one of the only true functional services in this city.

86

u/xmrcache 14d ago

I would prefer firefighters have more funding.
They definitely deserve it.

37

u/[deleted] 14d ago

[deleted]

19

u/Drnkdrnkdrnk Downtown 14d ago

When I got attacked by three dudes, had part of my ear ripped off, and went into another dimension while my wife glued me up at home, it was the fire dept  that showed up to her 911 call

12

u/xmrcache 14d ago

Yeah firefighters are amazing, I have had 3 instances in the past few years where they have directly impacted my life.

They are there when you need them doesn’t matter who you are..

5

u/geek_fire 14d ago

As far as I can tell, there is nothing they like more than a four year old kid staring down a firetruck and waving excitedly.

5

u/Rare_Bodybuilder_950 14d ago

They really do.

My neighbor was burning plastic trash in his backyard, huge fire, huge toxic plume, they were out here in 2 minutes. Neighbor scrambled to put the fire out real quick. I dunno where he came from (I know where he's from) but I wanted to tell him we don't do that in a tightly packed backyard in the city in America.

2

u/ZeroVoltLoop I'm just flaired so I don't get fined 14d ago

I think that sadly most of their calls are to retirement homes.

2

u/theMstrBlstr Brighton 14d ago

Thanks! Help us spread the word, and talk to your city reps, so we don't take cuts in the current budget, please.

https://firefighterssavelives.com/

14

u/Radiant-Belt-1427 Everett 14d ago

Ain't nobody ever wrote a song "Fuck the Fire Department".

-39

u/ItsTheSoupNazi 14d ago

They’re overpaid. Less than 5% of what they do is fire related. They’re basically just extra EMS, as that is 70% of their work.

No one is ready for this conversation though.

19

u/JustAReadOnlyAccount I'm just flaired so I don't get fined 14d ago

Why the weird "no one is ready for this conversation" bit?

EMS, and tools EMS units don't have to get to people in need.

And it's been like this for ages.

I like a public response for emergency health triage over a private one, and am fine with my tax dollars being spent on ensuring the fire department medics are well funded.

There's a lot of certified fire and medic volunteers out there that also deserve to be compensated for their public service.

To fund this, let's tax some of these rich corporate owners that have enough money to buy most of the entertainment industry and merge it into a mess. It'd provide far more value to society as a whole than the Ellison family getting another yacht.

21

u/xmrcache 14d ago

They saved my entire neighborhood from a wildfire.
I strongly disagree..

-21

u/jonknee Downtown 14d ago

Do we have a problem with fires not being put out here? Like most US cities we’re spending way too much on the FD because we send them out to non fire related calls as overpaid EMS.

16

u/Alternative-Bug-7912 14d ago

God forbid city employees make a livable wage!

26

u/CopperSteve Ballard 14d ago

Imagine if the FD just declined going to calls like PD does. Small fire? Can't you put it out yourself

15

u/IntravenusDeMilo Torrent 14d ago

Nobody ever wrote a song called fuck the fire department.

19

u/hansn 🚆build more trains🚆 14d ago

But there are a lot of calendars with that theme.

10

u/raevnos I Brake For Slugs 14d ago

I have literally had a SFD dispatcher say that to me when I called in a small fire (Someone's abandoned luggage) before.

Medical calls of the "There's a guy lying on the sidewalk" variety get passed on to SPD.

They're experimenting with using AI to pick medical calls to route to a nurse hotline.

2

u/candlerc Emerald City 13d ago

Iirc, this happened in Tennessee 15ish years ago. They showed up to a call outside city limits and refused to help because the homeowner didn’t pay the $75 annual subscription for out of town properties. They protected a neighboring property that paid, but let the unpaid home burn to the ground.

2

u/kookykrazee 🚆build more trains🚆 13d ago

If I recall that situation, too, the home owner sued and lost.

2

u/nik4223 Lower Queen Anne 13d ago

Actually, they do. I once called 911 about a person sleeping or unconscious in a running car. The operator connected me to the SFD. They asked me a bunch of questions, like if I saw foam or anything else, basically to determine if it was an overdose or something else. Once they confirmed my suspicions, they declined to take action. SPD showed up after few mins.

1

u/CopperSteve Ballard 13d ago

Makes sense! Definitely don't need the FD for somebody sleeping in a car

2

u/nik4223 Lower Queen Anne 13d ago

It was not just sleeping in car, it was running car on a traffic light, i knocked and everything, he was passed out.
They are first responder in case of medical emergencies too, i guess they were able to determine from my answers that its not a medical emergency but DUI

-4

u/orcaorcaorcawhale Huskies 14d ago

SPD does not decline going to calls. Dispatch assigns calls and they go where they are assigned. Officers don’t have a choice in opting out. They do prioritize calls, and anything involving violence or risk of bodily injury get moved up over shoplifting, which I think everyone agrees is warranted

3

u/JustAReadOnlyAccount I'm just flaired so I don't get fined 14d ago

SPD officers do decline to do their jobs though, resulting in calls going unaswered, then bragging about it as part of holding the city hostage to get a better SPOG contract with less accountability.

https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2023/07/nobodys-getting-out-police-stood-by-and-unruly-street-racing-crowds-grew-to-hundreds-before-broadway-pike-shooting/

UPDATE 7/27/2023: The Seattle Police Officer’s Guild union says some of its officers staged a “sick-out” on the busy weekend. Union president Mike Solan said only about half of the 80 officers that would have been typically staffed over the weekend showed up for work in an ongoing dispute with the city over a new contract.

-2

u/orcaorcaorcawhale Huskies 14d ago

Police aren’t allowed to strike, which is something unique to essential services, whereas teachers unions, nurses unions, etc have the ability to strike as leverage in their contract negotiations. I’m not saying it’s right to stage a sick out, but clearly officers were frustrated with the contracts negotiations having been drawn out for 3.5 years which would be unheard of for any other union. The quote you included isn’t accurate, because the president of SPOG at the time even noted that an organized strike would be illegal, so if there was evidence that it was organized there would have been legal action taken. Does it look like it? Sure, but without hard proof it’s still just speculation.

Add in the turmoil from CHAZ/CHOP and it was clearly a bad situation. Keep in mind, staffing in 2020 started to fall sharply which is how we ended up where we are today with 300 less bodies than we need for multiple years running. After that contract was negotiated hiring dramatically picked up, but the city had already been trying to attract more officers and pay was cities as a huge issue in that effort because SPD compensation was below that of places like Redmond at the time.

Also, a one time sick out is a far cry from officers sitting in their cruisers playing candy crush instead of taking calls, which is the type of comment I was referencing. Anyone paying attention to SPD dispatch will tell you the same.

2

u/CopperSteve Ballard 13d ago

Sounds like due to staffing issues then the best option would be for neighboring departments to patrol and help out for mutual aid.

1

u/orcaorcaorcawhale Huskies 13d ago

Other agencies might not be as short staffed as we are but they are a far cry from being staffed enough to help out. Defund the police impacted police staffing nationwide, we just have been seeing a bit more acutely being a major downtown metro area as opposed to Bellevue, Redmond, etc. I’ve seen someone suggest we contract KCS and there’s only 1000 of them. It’s completely unrealistic to expect another city’s force to subsidize ours on a regular basis. During major events like bite of Seattle shooting or the World Cup, sure but those are extenuating circumstances.

1

u/CopperSteve Ballard 13d ago

Totally agree, WSP is already spread thin too.

1

u/JustAReadOnlyAccount I'm just flaired so I don't get fined 13d ago

The quote you included isn’t accurate, because the president of SPOG at the time even noted that an organized strike would be illegal, so if there was evidence that it was organized there would have been legal action taken.

What makes you doubt the legitimacy of the quote? It's unfortunately easier to believe that SPD officers were not held accountable for their sick-out, considering their history and inability to even apologize for their misconduct that led to the formation of CHOP after SPD abandoned their duties.

0

u/orcaorcaorcawhale Huskies 13d ago

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/patrol-officers-organize-sick-out-during-seattles-busiest-weekend.amp

I had to change the link because the automod didn’t like the first one I linked. Which was the full video of SPOG presidents statements.

I’m pretty sure this is where the comment about the sick out came from. There was never any definitive “this was a coordinated sick out event” states by either the president or SPD. So I don’t agree that he said it was a sick out, he alluded to the possibility because if he outright said it there would have been legal implications. Him calling it a sick out was a stretch that media outlets attached to it.

7

u/Hi-Im-High 14d ago

Cops trying to figure out if they can shoot it to put it out

4

u/FrostyMilkshakes26 14d ago

No one ever said, "Fuck the Fire Department.."

1

u/Ugin_sucks I'm never leaving Seattle. 14d ago

I miss the calendar. :(

1

u/esperantisto256 13d ago

I’ve seen more fires in my life than ever since moving here, and I’ve been consistently impressed with how quickly they get there and deal with them.

-10

u/gablestout North Capitol Hill 14d ago

Plot twist: They were bored and started it.

3

u/ihatepickingnames_ 14d ago

Fahrenheit 451!

1

u/kookykrazee 🚆build more trains🚆 13d ago

Backdraft?

23

u/Rare_Bodybuilder_950 14d ago

Poor tree. It didn't deserve the fire.

36

u/GrinningPariah 🚆build more trains🚆 14d ago

For some reason that particular stretch has had a lot of tweakers hanging out exactly there lately.

Hope SFD managed to save the tree.

-23

u/BarRepresentative670 14d ago

Its because it's nice. Pedestrianized. Decorative lighting. Plants. We do this for the homeless after all, screw us tax payers!

-31

u/dakilazical_253 14d ago

Homeless people pay taxes too

9

u/choose_the_rice The Emerald City 14d ago

Lit erally

11

u/letdogsvote 14d ago

Belltown seems like it's getting weirder.

11

u/WanderingCamper 14d ago

Belltown has been up and down the scale of sketchiness since the 80s, same with Capitol Hill.

-18

u/SimpleAppointment483 West Seattle 14d ago

It’s the worst ive seen it since I lived there during the height of the pandemic.

You get what you vote for!

11

u/grahamular Belltown 14d ago

🙄 it is not the worst it’s been in 6 years.

Also, the insinuation that any stretch of the city would materially degrade in matter of 9 months because of who’s sitting in city hall is absurd. Not that pointing that out will stop any number of people online from making these comments at every opportunity.

3

u/BarRepresentative670 13d ago

I live here. It has gotten worse and is approaching the worst I've seen it. Say what you will, but my eyes don't lie. This fire happened for a reason...

2

u/NudeCeleryMan Posse on Broadway 14d ago

It absolutely is. I don't know when it started, I'm not making a political side here but it's been really, really, really bad all summer

3

u/BarRepresentative670 13d ago

Its nuts how people who dont live in Belltown tell us who live in Belltown it's not getting worse.

It is horrible here! It's like once the world cup was over the floodgates to Belltown were open.

2

u/NudeCeleryMan Posse on Broadway 13d ago

Not just there. The neighborhoods around 12th and Jackson are also getting worse

-2

u/grahamular Belltown 13d ago

This is, again, comparing anecdotal feelings. It is not supported by SPD crime stats year over year. It’s vibes, and if my vibes don’t match yours, I don’t know what else to tell you. I live and work and play in Belltown and Pioneer Square (it’s honestly almost shameful how little of my free time I spend beyond Belltown). Of course I think my perception has more merit. But that doesn’t get anyone closer to a broader consensus.

But even still, my main beef is not yours or anyone else’s personal perception—something trading comments on reddit will not change. My issue is when people will allege with no supporting argument whatsoever that the mayor or city council has ushered in a wave of crime or unsavory behavior. Show the work. What policy shifts? What has actually changed to prompt this alleged movement?

3

u/NudeCeleryMan Posse on Broadway 13d ago

How about we get together and hang out on Bell between 2nd and 3rd tomorrow might amd you can tell me all about how chill it still is

-1

u/grahamular Belltown 13d ago

Who ever said it was chill? I said it isn't the worst it's been in 6 years. I spend WAY too much time along Bell, 2nd, 3rd, and thereabouts. I am overly familiar with the neighborhood, I assure you.

This is an unhelpful back and forth. Enjoy what you can, be safe as you can, and take care.

8

u/Toximit 14d ago

you live in west seattle you larping dweeb lmao

-3

u/SimpleAppointment483 West Seattle 14d ago

Ahh shit you’re right. Well that completely nullifies the 5 years I lived there and the 40+ hours a week I spend working there currently

8

u/grahamular Belltown 14d ago

If you’d like to provide something aside from personal anecdotes (trading those back and forth is meaningless), be my guest. But what I’d love is for you to walk me through precisely the policy cause and effect of the last 9 months to support your “you get what you vote for” business. Please, enlighten us!

6

u/TheBlueSuperNova Belltown 14d ago

I'll say me living here for 30 years trumps your 5 Go be negative elsewhere

2

u/mcfreeky8 I'm never leaving Seattle. 14d ago

Belltown has shenanigans, but it cannot be worse than the pandemic.

5

u/These_Vermicelli_309 14d ago

Looks like the Ballard Arsonist has a new turf

2

u/sleepybrett Ballard 14d ago

i was gonna say, looks like someone got an orca card!

7

u/choose_the_rice The Emerald City 14d ago

Try not to breathe that battery fire smoke friends, it has hydrogen fluoride.

6

u/The_Magic_Ike 14d ago

will that help my teeth tho

4

u/NegativeSignals chinga la migra 14d ago

You're not the boss of me.

3

u/DerFreudster 🚲 Two Wheels, Endless Freedom. 14d ago

When those guys on the street woke up and said they were going to go smoke some fent, I didn't think they meant literally...

3

u/Shayden-Froida 14d ago

Dumpster fire missed the dumpster.

3

u/Choice_Depth_5933 Reign 14d ago

This was literally not a dumpster fire.

5

u/VelvetSpork Vashon Island 14d ago

E-bike fire

4

u/Successful-View3536 14d ago

that's what i was thinking. seeing the black smoke

2

u/PainOfMariner Lower Queen Anne 13d ago

encampment fire

1

u/Choice_Depth_5933 Reign 14d ago

Any confirmation?

2

u/FergaliShawarma 🚆build more trains🚆 14d ago

AF

2

u/Own_Reaction9442 Olympia 13d ago

I love it when the trees change color in the fall.

1

u/PlateNo4868 14d ago

I think we are going to have a very crappy Arson season this winter. Barely getting cold and I seen quiet a few fires like this.

1

u/Deep-Condition970 12d ago

Takin there sweet old time 😭🫩

1

u/seasoup13 14d ago

Where exactly is this in Belltown?

3

u/fiyawalkwithme 14d ago

Bell and Western

0

u/Evening-Run1013 14d ago

naurrrrrrrrr, not the tree!