King Mountain resident and attorney warns of ecological and safety crisis at expanding homeless encampment

Attorney Julie Jansen warns that the 40-acre King Mountain encampment is destroying local wetlands and creating an undeniable public safety crisis in Bellingham.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 26, 2026, 6:28 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Cascadia Daily News

The Erosion of Neighborhood Safety and Stability

Julie Jansen, a fourth-generation resident and local attorney, has voiced a formal alarm regarding the rapid expansion of a homeless encampment into the King Mountain neighborhood. Once a small and temporary site, the area has grown into a semi-permanent fixture covering more than 40 acres of critical wetlands. Jansen notes that for residents who have lived in the area for decades, the sense of security has been replaced by escalating fear. As a victim of a violent crime connected to the encampment, she argues that the current situation is no longer a simple issue of housing, but a fundamental breakdown of public safety that forces families to change how they move through their own community.

Ecological Degradation of the King Mountain Wetlands

The environmental impact on the surrounding ecosystem serves as a central pillar of Jansen’s argument. The encampment sits within a critical ecological zone that includes Spring Creek, an area vital for water filtration and local wildlife support. According to the commentary, the accumulation of debris, hazardous materials, and human waste is actively degrading the soil and water quality. Jansen warns that chemical runoff from discarded materials and long-term contamination may take decades to remediate. The "visibly degraded" state of the wetlands represents a loss of environmental integrity that Jansen believes the city has failed to prioritize in its outreach efforts.

Escalating Physical Risks: Fire and Explosions

Beyond environmental concerns, the physical safety of the region is under immediate threat from fire hazards. In recent months, multiple fires and explosions have been reported within the encampment. Given that King Mountain is surrounded by dense brush and vegetation, Jansen emphasizes that these are not isolated incidents but precursors to a potential regional tragedy. As the dry season approaches, the risk of a preventable fire spreading into residential areas becomes a primary concern for homeowners who feel the city’s advice to "lock your doors" is an insufficient strategy for mitigating large-scale disaster.