A string of utility pole poster fires has Seattle Police on the lookout for a man and woman seen setting a fire early this morning near 10th Ave and E. Pike. Here’s the SPD report:
On 10/13/09, at 2:00 a.m., an officer was flagged down by a taxi driver, who reported that he observerd [sic] a man and a woman set a light pole on fire at 10 Ave / E. Pike St. Seattle Fire Department responded to the scene.
The suspects lit paper posters, which were attached to the light pole on fire causing a smoldering effect that burned out on its own. Officers conducted an area check for additional fires and found three more poles smoldering on 10th Ave between E. Pike and E. Pine streets.
The only damage of note was to the posters attached to the poles. The suspects are described as a middle age white male and white female, wearing black.
A similar fire in late September was set mid-afternoon also in Pike/Pine near 11th and Pine.
Another fire described in the 911 log as a ‘rubbish fire’ burned this morning near Broadway and Pike around 8:40 AM. We’re checking with Seattle Fire and Seattle Police for more information on that and the other incidents.
UPDATE 10:25 AM:
Seattle Fire spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen says this morning’s ‘rubbish’ fire was not related to the utility pole fires and was caused when material was burned by a candle being used by a homeless person.
These fires are yet another reason to not allow the thick accumulation of posters on utility poles. SDOT has regulations which would prevent this from happening, if only these were respected by those who poster.
The City/SDOT needs to change its current hands-off policy regarding illegal postering.
I love looking at the posters on the poles as I walk by.
What they should do is hire some homeless/jobless person to tear down the ones that are past their show date.
Maybe catch these arsonists and make them do it.
KEEP THE POSTERS!