Seattle crews have begun clearing a large encampment in Rainier Beach, with the city estimating the work will take several weeks. The site on and around 42nd Avenue South includes private property and public right-of-way, and neighbors say it had spread across more than two city blocks. Workers were removing metal, fencing and other debris on Thursday, after cars and propane tanks were reportedly taken away the previous day. The city says it issued emergency orders on Sept. 29, 2026, following a recent violent incident it considers an imminent threat to public safety. The Human Services Department said the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, the Unified Care Team and Seattle police are coordinating the response on public and private land, offering support to people at the site and carrying out cleanup. The city said it would provide information about the number of people affected and shelter referrals after the effort is complete. Property owner Jay Wampold said the encampment on his land grew from one car and some garbage in 2024. He and other neighbors tried to clean the property and install fencing, he said, but the city told them to coordinate with police. Wampold alleges officers did not prevent trespassing. He also cited a deadly shooting last year and gunfire in recent weeks; Seattle police did not confirm the more recent shooting, while the city pointed to a recent violent incident as the reason for the removal. Wampold and other property owners have filed a claim against Seattle, a step that could precede a lawsuit. They allege the city failed to clear the camp while telling owners it could not act. Though cleanup is underway, Wampold said he is not ready to withdraw the claim because he fears people could return and remain on the property without city intervention. Some camp residents have been offered shelter, according to Kay, a former resident who asked that her last name not be used. She said people had been told they could collect their remaining belongings before crews removed what was left. The city has not yet provided a count of residents or shelter referrals. The removal comes as Seattle agencies work across multiple parcels and the public right-of-way. The city has not said when the full cleanup will be finished.