San Jose Firefighters Knock Down Overnight Fires In The Former 'Jungle' Homeless Encampment
SAN JOSE (KCBS) — San Jose firefighters knocked down a large trash fire Tuesday morning in the former homeless encampment known as "The Jungle." It was second overnight fire, officials said.
San Jose Firefighters Knock Down Overnight Fires In The Former 'Jungle' Homeless Encampment
The large trash fire broke out early Tuesday morning in the former "Jungle" homeless encampment.
Fire crews responded quickly and eventually extinguished it but not after having to leave and return with more water.
The large fire was second overnight fire in two different locations.
"The crews down there are telling me there is a lot of trash still left over--couches and miscellaneous things being moved around down there--and we can't determine if somebody was down there or not. So there is the potential there for some fire still until we get a lot of this stuff cleared out," San Jose fire Capt. Peter Caponio told KCBS.
Some of the responding firefighters told KCBS that the fire could have been started by "warming" fires from people still trying to live there or that someone could be intentionally setting the trash alight--possibly in retaliation for city clearing out the area last week.
While both ideas remain speculation, the Jungle remains a hazardous area as the city continues to work on its clean up.
The Jungle, which stretches over 68 acres through central San Jose along the Coyote Creek. was arguably the largest homeless shantytown in the U.S. before the city began its eviction last Thursday.
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