BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Bellingham Police Department investigated a large fire at a homeless encampment on Thursday night, Jan 8, that included ominous warning.

Bellingham Police Lt. Claudia Murphy says officers were called to a fire around 9:15 p.m. on the property just off the Guide Meridian near the dead end of Tull Road.

The flames were estimated to be about 10 ft. high.

As firefighters with the Bellingham Fire Department dealt with the fire, officers noticed a handwritten sign on a tree which warned that people will “pay the consequences” if they “tell on people” in the encampment. According to the sign, the consequence is to “walk out naked,” according to Murphy.

Murphy noted that both the motive of the sign and whether its warning has come true remain unknown.