A man in Seattle's University District is currently in critical condition after allegedly setting himself on fire early Monday morning, October 27, 2025, in a distressing incident that drew swift response from local authorities.
The event occurred around 3:10 am on Brooklyn Avenue Northeast, where police officers responding to multiple emergency calls found the man engulfed in flames as he ran through an alley.
According to reports from the Seattle Police Department, officers arrived within five minutes of receiving the call and immediately engaged in life-saving efforts. Despite their commands to "stop, drop, and roll," the man continued moving through the alley, prompting officers to use a fire extinguisher to suppress the flames before he collapsed on the ground.
The Seattle Fire Department (SFD) responded promptly, providing medical aid for second-degree burns covering a significant portion of the victim's body. The man was subsequently transported to Harborview Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition, according to hospital updates.
Surveillance footage from a nearby building revealed that the man had fallen asleep next to a small, makeshift fire, which rapidly spread to his clothing and caused the blaze. Investigators are treating the cause as under investigation, it is not yet clear whether the flames were intentionally self-inflicted or accidental.
The event occurred around 3:10 am on Brooklyn Avenue Northeast, where police officers responding to multiple emergency calls found the man engulfed in flames as he ran through an alley.
Incident details and response
According to reports from the Seattle Police Department, officers arrived within five minutes of receiving the call and immediately engaged in life-saving efforts. Despite their commands to "stop, drop, and roll," the man continued moving through the alley, prompting officers to use a fire extinguisher to suppress the flames before he collapsed on the ground.
The Seattle Fire Department (SFD) responded promptly, providing medical aid for second-degree burns covering a significant portion of the victim's body. The man was subsequently transported to Harborview Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition, according to hospital updates.
Surveillance footage from a nearby building revealed that the man had fallen asleep next to a small, makeshift fire, which rapidly spread to his clothing and caused the blaze. Investigators are treating the cause as under investigation, it is not yet clear whether the flames were intentionally self-inflicted or accidental.
