Encampment fire under I-5 in Tacoma leads to the discovery of a person’s body

A tent fire in a homeless encampment under Interstate 5 Monday night led to the discovery of a body, the Tacoma Fire Department said.

The encampment is located in the vicinity of East Bay and East R streets. It was reported at 8:44 p.m., said fire department spokesperson Joe Meinecke. The body was found in the tent after flames were extinguished.

It could not be immediately determined if the victim died from the fire or some other cause, Meinecke said. The Pierce County Medical Examiner is investigating the death, he said.

The fire and death do not look suspicious, but an investigation was opened while the medical examiner determines manner and cause of death, Tacoma police spokesperson Wendy Haddow said Tuesday.

Numerous fires have broken out at homeless encampments in the area over the last several years.

Craig Sailor

The News Tribune

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Craig Sailor has worked for The News Tribune since 1998 as a writer, editor and photographer. He previously worked at The Olympian and at other newspapers in Nevada and California. He has a degree in journalism from San Jose State University.