Watch Seattle Police Extinguish Flames after Man Catches Fire

A "makeshift fire" spread to a sleeping man's clothes, and flames engulfed him before quick responding Seattle police officers used an extinguisher to put out the fire.

Joe Vince

Oct. 28, 2025

What to know

Seattle police officers used a fire extinguisher to save a man engulfed in flames after an accidental fire in the University District.
Security video showed the man’s clothing caught fire after he fell asleep next to "a makeshift fire."
Police and fire officials said the officers’ rapid response likely saved the man, who is in critical condition with second-degree burns on most of his body.

Seattle police officers used extinguishers early Monday to douse the flames that had engulfed a sleeping man after they spread to his clothes while he was sleeping.

Recently released body camera footage that captured an amazing scene as Seattle police saved a man early Monday after he caught fire and flames engulfed him.

The incident happened just after 3 a.m. when officers responded to reports of a man on fire in the city's University District, according to a department news release. When police reached the scene, they found the man consumed by flames and running through an alley.

Officers told the man to stop, drop and roll in order to put out the fire, but he continued running. The officers then grabbed fire extinguishers, which doused the flames as the man dropped to the ground.

Medics from the fire department responded to the scene, and they began treating the injured man. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition with second-degree burns on much of his body.

Video from a building's security camera showed that the man had fallen asleep next to "a makeshift fire," according to the department. Flames jumped to his clothes while he slept, catching him on fire.

"Due to the rescue efforts by first responders, the man survived," the department stated.

About the Author

Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.