City Council Unanimously Passes Emergency Legislation to Demolish Dangerous Vacant Buildings

by Nimra Ahmad

The Seattle City Council unanimously passed legislation Tuesday, June 4, to allow the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) to order the demolition or remediation of vacant buildings that it deems as threats to public safety. The legislation, CB 120777, will take effect immediately after being signed by Mayor Bruce Harrell, who has voiced his support for it.

"Fires in derelict buildings have become a dangerous hazard across the City, especially in District 2. Between 2022 and 2023 there were over 60 fires between Yesler Terrace and Rainier Beach, and someone tragically lost their life," said Councilmember Tammy Morales of District 2, a co-sponsor of the bill. "This legislation marks a turning point."

Vacant building fires have become a growing problem in the city, with 77 incidents in 2021, 91 in 2022, and 130 in 2023. The Emerald recently reported on the aftermath of last year's massive fire at an abandoned building on Rainier Avenue South — the building was on SFD's "Dangerous Buildings" list. The legislation passed just hours after a fatal fire at a vacant apartment building in the Roosevelt neighborhood.

In addition to allowing SFD to order the remediation or demolition of derelict buildings, the legislation also requires property owners to pay for work to secure the sites and, in extreme circumstances, authorizes the City to conduct abatement work to improve the site's safety and place liens on properties to recover costs.

SFD has identified more than 40 vacant buildings that may be affected by the legislation, and it hopes to address four buildings this year, pending the mayor's signature.

"The inability to demolish these hazards has contributed to a permissive environment where government stands by as predictable accidents and crimes occur," said Councilmember Bob Kettle of District 7, a co-sponsor of the legislation. "Today, the Council took decisive action to change that. This legislation will substantially address the issue of dangerous vacant buildings. We owe it to our brave firefighters and our neighbors to take a proactive approach, so they don't have to endanger their lives to put out fires at vacant buildings."

Featured Image: More than 80 firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire on Nov. 28, 2023, at the abandoned Jumbo building near Rainier Avenue South and South Genesee Street. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Fire Department.)