No injuries reported following fire at camp along railroad tracks near Plum and Union

Olympia Fire Department responded to a fire at a homeless camp near Plum Street Southeast on Wednesday.

Crews were called shortly after 8 p.m. to the camp about 100 feet west of train tracks at Plum and Union Avenue Southeast, according to OFD.

Firefighters found a 20-foot-by-20-foot camp on fire, including a wooden structure and tent.

No injuries were reported. Some lanes of Union Avenue were temporarily blocked.

In October, crews were called to at least two fires in camps along Wheeler Avenue Southeast. No injuries were reported in either fire.

OFD started tracking calls related to homelessness this spring. From April to November, it had 90 calls, though not all were fires, said Kevin Bossard, the city’s fire marshal.

City and fire officials have been in talks with the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency, which regulates air quality issues in the region, about how to prevent fires in camps, Bossard said.

Outdoor burning is banned within city limits.

This story was originally published December 12, 2019 at 1:22 PM.