On Saturday afternoon, a significant fire broke out in a homeless encampment on Norwood Dr. in Spenard. There were multiple calls to 911, with the smoke reportedly seen as far away as Merrill Field. Propane tanks were exploding in the neighborhood, people were screaming, and flames were visible when firefighters from stations 5 and 1 pulled up.
Four homeless people in the area were given advice on where to get shelter from the city services, and the fire fighters were able to clear the scene at about 7:10 pm.
It’s become a regular occurrence in Anchorage, with homeless encampments setting the greenbelts and forests on fire, and this is just March, with fire season ahead.
Days before, a citizen reported someone who appeared to be on drugs setting fire to brush and trees at Resolution Park near downtown.
Political writer Jeff Landfield reported on March 26 a major homeless fire on the Campbell Creek Trail near the Foxridge condominiums. There were six foot flames and explosions from propane tanks in the encampment.
The increasing number of vagrant-set fires raises questions about whether Mayor Suzanne LaFrance has been up to the task of tamping down the homelessness in Anchorage, which appears to be spreading, literally, like wildfire.
Until Meg Zalatel is not making money off the “homeless” (they are addicts and bums, homeless by choice) Anchorage will continue to suffer under the oppression of the useless.
Come on, not all are homeless by choice. I certainly was not. I spent Thanksgiving to June last year being homeless. I’m not an addict, I’m not a drunk, and I don’t even smoke or vape. I have a decent car and live in an apartment run by Cook Inlet Housing.
I do share your disgust with the problem children, though. I can tell you from experience that unless all homeless shelters are run like Gospel Rescue Mission, the problem of homelessness WILL continue. Brother Francis was much better than the street, for sure, but the drugs were RAMPANT. It is essentially a prison that you can walk away from whenever you want.
“…….It is essentially a prison that you can walk away from whenever you want……..”
And therein is the problem: they can walk away at will. It’s time for that *clang* of the cell door slamming shut for a while.
Don’t forget about Chris having his hands in the homeless pot of cash too
I’m sorry you said four homeless people were given advice on where to seek shelter. If they were involved in the fire, why were they not arrested? Maybe the answer to the question is why we have the problem.
Yes. -sd
The Anchorage Municipal Prosecutors’ Office declined to press charges on a known arsonist. SOMEONE in the office made this decision. It wasn’t the WHOLE OFFICE that decided. When the hillside goes up in flames, or half of downtown by this same arsonist in July, can we have HER face AND the city prosecutor’s face on social media who decided to not…wait for it…prosecute when the arsonist was in custody? Please?
Who was it?
Susan can you find out please?
FOIA?
Loyal staff follow the policy positions of their leaders. We see it at the Federal and, right now, some of us enjoy that.
This decision follows what the mayor would have directed had she been consulted. We know that from the mayor’s (and assemblyman’s) prior statements and actions.
No, it will be the mayor’s face in the media when the Hillside burns.
Remember too, that somehow it’s a property owners fault, (according to the powers that be), if trespassing arsonists set fires and endanger lives? Good Lord!
Outrageous.
What crime as a white, straight, Catholic, working, family man can I commit, have law enforcement aware of it, and not be persecuted and prosecuted to the full extent of the law?
If I drive 7 mph over the speed limit I am prosecuted and fined – no mercy.
Who decided not to prosecute a known arsonist – this is crazy – these liberals hate people like me, our country, and Trump.
It’s coming, they should wake up and realize who will overwhelmingly win.
Very scary and confusing as to why nothing was done to this person.
The current Mayor will be nowhere to be found on the matter. She does what she is told by Constant, Rivera and Zalatel and little else. She lacks the skill set to make any significant progress on the homeless/vagrant issue. The money pumped into free stuff for the homeless by the Municipality will increase. Anchorage continues the downward march.
They are in Fairbanks too, starting campfires. Underneath the Steese Expressway Bridge and Cushman Bridge. Tourists in the area are warned to be careful.
Don’t forget to vote for the new parks bond money to give the homeless even more facilities to destroy
Nailed it.
“Don’t ask me why I do what I do, I just do.”- Ray Wylie Hubbard.
I hate to say it, but many Californians are convinced that many of THEIR fires are deliberately set by Deep State agents. How many of these “homeless” people are Ray Epps-like agents? And is La France one herself? Why are the municipal office holders so smug and complacent about all their petty and not-so-petty tyrannies? Is it because they know that elections are rigged by mail-in ballots? Anchorage and Fbks are NOT as Lefty as we might think, but the illusion is created. Do you REALLY believe that all these homeless vagrants are Super Voters that they pander to?
“………many Californians are convinced that many of THEIR fires are deliberately set by Deep State agents……..”
It’s pretty difficult to believe that right wing propaganda can exist in California.
“…….Four homeless people in the area were given advice on where to get shelter from the city services……..”
Why were they not given shelter at Cook Inlet Pretrial?
Has AFD given a press conference blaming the property owner for not securing the property yet?
When is the Alaska Mental Health Authority going to step up to the plate and stop this madness? These people need treatment and hospitalization. We need to return to the CooCoo’s nest to figure this out.
The federal funds for all of anchorage should be cut off. What a joke. Portland of the north.
Not just Portland, but Seattle too. Sadly, elected officials in Juneau still want to be like Seattle.
The property owner in Anchorage is just a piggy bank for the idiots running our city into the ground. The current mayor is simply a rubber stamp for the assembly of RICO violators that have the check book.
thanks IBEW and the other 13 unions that control this town.
You guys are nothing but traitors imo.
I’m a lifelong union man (retired)
Honestly what can you do? have a similar problem in pdx. I don’t recall this problem 30 years ago. It’s like life got too hard or people got too soft
“……..Honestly what can you do?……..”
Four words:
Put them in jail.
It’s really that simple. It’s done to keep the public safe, and to keep them safe from themselves. Jail has nothing to do with punishment or rehabilitation……..both of which are distractions. It’s all about keeping people safe. This isn’t rocket science. The problem and its solution are ancient. If we put them in jail, keep them from the drugs and alcohol, and make them work while there, when they’re released, they’ll leave…….especially if they get a second (longer) tour in jail and the morons on the Left Coast continue to coddle them.
The Fire was over a mile way in Norrthwood Park