Thursday, October 1, 2026
Intercity Transit is working to protect bus drivers from poor air quality caused by burning at the houseless encampment site known as "The Jungle."
General Manager Emily Bergkamp delivered an update on the issue to Intercity Transit Authority at a meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
The encampment spans around 20 acres, and is located between Martin Way and Pacific Avenue in Olympia. The City of Olympia, along with regional partners, is in the process of closing "The Jungle," which has been in existence for about a decade.
The burning has mostly been affecting drivers running in the early morning hours around the area.
Bergkamp said the transit agency has been working with Washington State Department of Labor & Industries to create a plan for better protecting bus operators, which includes the implementation of respirators if needed.
Bergkamp added she has also met with Olympia officials, who said around 260 individuals remain at the site. Twenty-five people have been housed thus far, and housing efforts will continue with a focus on the Martin Way side of the site before working toward the side near Pacific Avenue.
The city is conducting weekly trash cleanups at the site. Officials are also discussing the impacts of burning with residents and trying to ascertain whether the burning serves a social function.
Intercity Transit is also working with the Olympia Regional Clean Air Agency to gather air quality data from sensors. The data will help inform a smoke mitigation plan for the transit agency.
“I think we're the only agency in Washington state — it may actually be in the United States — that has a non-wildfire smoke mitigation plan, but that that is what we need to do to make sure folks are protected,” Bergkamp said.
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MrCommonSense
There should not be any fires. Here is the info for burning inside the city limits right now. Do we all now get to have outdoor fires?
City of Olympia
Inside Olympia city limits, outdoor burning—including recreational fires—is prohibited regardless of the current county burn ban. Olympia is subject to the state prohibition on outdoor burning in cities/UGAs. The exception is gas or propane appliances and charcoal briquettes.
So, if you’re asking because you’re considering burning something at your property in Olympia, the answer is essentially:
Tuesday, August 25 Report this
Acadian04
Trying to ascertain whether the burning serves a social function? Do they hold monthly mixers over s'mores at the Jungle?
Tuesday, August 25 Report this
JulesJames
Just how nutz does this have to get? Bus drivers in gas masks just passing near The Jungle! Close The Jungle. Jail or treatment. Plenty of years of contemplate. No more talk. Take action, not gas masks.
Tuesday, August 25 Report this
Honestyandrealityguy
Why not exercise common sense and get rid of the burning?
Wednesday, August 26 Report this
JW
Just when you think the stupidity surrounding the Jungle can't get any worse.....
Here's a genius idea: let's stop the source of the problem, the burning, by removing the criminal trespassers camping at the Jungle. The vibrant Jungle population of *** offenders and wanted felons can go to jail and prison where they belong and the few that are not can get into some forced treatment.
This could be solved in a week, but there is too much sweet taxpayer cash at stake with all the non profits involved as well as the loss of a great signal post for people to use as a virtue signal to show how loving, compassionate, and caring they are while leaving people in squalor to prey on each other and innocent community members. So expect this to be drawn out for as long as possible at the cost of more beatings, firebombings, and *** trafficking of minors
Wednesday, August 26 Report this
Shushu
Definition of insanity!
Wednesday, August 26 Report this
Patriot
Enforce the law! You cannot burn in Olympia. You cannot camp on private property. You cannot sell drugs. You cannot steal. etc. etc. etc. The problem could be solved overnight. I would like the City leaders to produce a pamphlet stating which laws they enforce and which the don't. It would be very helpful for us tax payers who are unwillingly supporting this mess.
Wednesday, August 26 Report this
BillSpencer
It's a shame that our system here in the wealthiest nation on earth cannot house it's people. So instead of the government getting people out of encampments and into apartments, we bomb civilians in the middle east and give welfare to corporations and the wealthy. Olympia is ultimately left to pick up the pieces of the post-Reagan gutting of the safety net and mental health institutions. So if it's smokey on Martin, that's partially on y'all for voting for the same bozos over and over again - politicians are the real bums.
Wednesday, August 26 Report this
chrispc2u
Gas out those professional bums with tear gas and keep doing until they don’t return. ENOUGH of this pandering to and coddling these drug addled low life scum. Make it some OTHER cities problem!
Wednesday, August 26 Report this
Somney
It affects the hospital too
Thursday, August 27 Report this
KinesthesiaAmnesia
My spouse recently got laid off from a job that was next to the Jungle and LIHI tiny home village. And I had the greatest sense of relief. I know it sounds kind of twisted. But towards the end, every time I visited that workplace, I saw: literal dumpster fires, streakers, trafficking of women, weapons, very open drug deals, rocks thrown at the windows. Oly police and fire were always there, but it didn't seem to make much difference. My spouse has since gotten a new job. We want the other workers still stuck in the Jungle neighborhood to get a safer and happier workplace! (not by getting laid off)
Also why do people from the city ballpark the age of the Jungle around ten years? Because it's a LOT older than that. Especially if you consider how the Holly and other old no-tell motels on that stretch of Martin were like the seeds that sprouted the Jungle.
Thursday, August 27 Report this
NicoleRM
I LOVE this!
"Officials are also discussing the impacts of burning with residents and trying to ascertain whether the burning serves a social function."
I would like them to know that having a fire in my backyard is a social function for me. Now can I do it???
This whole thing is ridiculous!
Monday, September 7 Report this