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Homeless man dies from burns suffered in Kent encampment fire

The man appeared to be the only one living in small structure along Pacific Highway South

A homeless man died from injuries suffered in a fire at his encampment in Kent along Pacific Highway South on the West Hill.

Puget Sound Fire responded at about 6:46 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22 to a fire in the 24600 block of Pacific Highway South, according to a Feb. 23 email from Puget Sound Fire spokesman Pat Pawlak.

Firefighters arrived and found a homeless encampment fire with one man trapped. Firefighters cut a fence and rescued the man.

Paramedics transported the man with life-threatening burns to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The man died at the hospital from his injuries, Pawlak said.

Pawlak said the man’s age was unknown. He appeared to be the only person living at the encampment. The man had built some sort of a small little structure, using the existing fence for a couple of the walls, Pawlak said.

“The cause of the fire appears to be accidental,” Pawlak said.

South King Fire & Rescue and King County Medic One assisted on the call.




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