Fires Erupt During Homeless Encampment Abatement at Davis Park
June 17, 2025 – Multiple fires broke out at Anchorage’s Davis Park on Tuesday as municipal officials began a long-anticipated abatement of a homeless encampment. City plans to clear residents from the park and an adjacent snow dump were announced last month.
The chaotic scene unfolded Tuesday morning when the abatement commenced, leading to fires that engulfed several structures, prompting some residents to scramble to save their belongings while others watched in disbelief. The Anchorage Fire Department received reports of five separate fires within a 90-minute window, according to spokesperson Megan Peters.
All fires were deemed “suspicious/human caused,” as there was no lightning involved and given the ongoing activities in the area. One fire erupted in the snow dump before 11:30 a.m., sending dark smoke into the sky, while three more broke out near the park’s ball fields. Fire crews responded with at least a dozen units, managing to bring the second fire under control by noon.
The encampment, filled with debris, was marked as the source of the blazes. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Peters warned the public to avoid the area due to the “dynamic situation” unfolding around the park.
Despite the urgency, firefighting resources were not pre-staged at the park. Mayor Suzanne LaFrance had previously indicated that the years-old encampment would be cleared by mid-June. The Anchorage Police Department is now reviewing the fires to determine if they warrant criminal investigations.
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