53-year-old man dies in Seaside homeless encampment
Published 3:00 pm Tuesday, January 28, 2025
A Seaside man who was trying to keep warm with a candle died in a tent fire last week at a city-sanctioned encampment, officials said.
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The fire follows months of debate over how the city should respond safely and humanely to homelessness on the Oregon coast — and where it should locate the specific encampment, the only designated one in Seaside.
The fire happened Wednesday just before 1 p.m., according to the city.
Rocky Alan Guerrero, 53, was found dead at the scene, and authorities said a candle sparked the tent fire.
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Officials said someone at the camp used a nearby hose to douse the blaze before first responders arrived. The flames did not spread beyond the one tent, and no other injuries or damages were reported.
Neighbors said it could have been far worse.
“We’ve been concerned about fires from day one,” said Jorjett Strumme, who lives across the street from the camp. “I’ve seen fires from my window, and my neighbors have seen it, too. It freaks us out because they’re packed in there tight and if something catches on fire, it could spread.”
Dave Koller, who owns a storage facility across the street from the encampment on Avenue S, said he and other community members have raised concerns about the camp to the city, but feel those concerns have largely “fallen on deaf ears.”
“One of the problems with this fire is that it happened in an industrial zone,” Koller said. “The building next to it is an automotive and paint shop. It’s just unbelievable that the city would put a fire nuisance next to it.”
John Rahl, a spokesperson for the city, said that first responders have responded to fires at the encampment before but no other deaths have been reported. He said residents of the camp are allowed to have a small gas fire stove for cooking.
Rahl said the city plans to relocate the camp to an area just behind the city’s public works building. The move is slated for some time in the spring, he said.