Fire Line » Fire Prevention

Free Locks for Recycle Bins in Greenwood

vanders — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:18:52 +0000

In an effort to help keep burnable materials secure, Seattle Public Utilities will provide locks for commercial recycling, garbage and food waste containers in the Greenwood neighborhood, within the boundaries of NW 75th Street to North 90th Street and from 3rd Ave NW to Fremont Ave North. Residents and business owners can call Waste Management Customer Service at 1-800-592-9995 to get a free lock for containers provided by Seattle Public Utilities contracted service providers.

Seattle Fire Department encourages residents to continue to be vigilant about cleaning up around their businesses and homes. Click on the following links for additional tips on how to prevent arson.

Arson Tips for Residents:
http://www.seattle.gov/fire/fmo/Info/Arson%20Tips%20for%20Residential.pdf

Arson Tips for Businesses:
http://www.seattle.gov/fire/fmo/Info/Arson%20Tips%20for%20Business.pdf

Arson Tips in Spanish:
http://www.seattle.gov/fire/fmo/Info/Arson%20Tips%20in%20Espanol.pdf

Greenwood Arson Arrest

patrick — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:54:35 +0000

The Arson Task Force announced the arrest of a suspect in connection with the Greenwood arsons today. Members of the Seattle Police Department, Seattle Fire Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), held a press conference this afternoon detailing the early morning arrest of 46-year old Kevin Todd Swalwell.

Task force members had identified Swalwell as a person of interest in the Greenwood fires. Seattle Fire Investigators spotted him near the scene of a warehouse fire in Shoreline early this morning and contacted police. Swalwell was interviewed by police detectives and booked into the King County Jail for investigation of arson.

Seattle Police believe that Swalwell may be responsible for some if not all of the Greenwood arsons. Detectives are uncertain whether any additional suspects are connected to these crimes. Neighborhood arson patrols will continue until detectives are confident that these cases have been resolved. If you see anything suspicious taking place, call 911. If you have any information about any of the arsons, you can call the Arson Alarm Hotline at 1-800-55-ARSON. The Arson Alarm Foundation is offering up to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the arsonist.

As a reminder, there are simple things you can do to make your homes and neighborhoods safer. One of the most important is to clean up the areas around your homes and businesses. Get rid of any burnable items and keep your recycle bins secure.

Arson Tips for Residents: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/fmo/Info/Arson%20Tips%20for%20Residential.pdf

Arson Tips for Businesses: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/fmo/Info/Arson%20Tips%20for%20Business.pdf

Arson Tips in Spanish: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/fmo/Info/Arson%20Tips%20in%20Espanol.pdf

Now is also a very important time to make sure you have working smoke alarms and a fire safety plan. Seattle Fire Department offers free smoke alarms and installation for qualified homeowners.

Smoke Alarm Program: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/smokealarms/smokeAlarms.htm

Home Fire Safety: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/homesafety/homeFireSafety.htm

Fire Fact Sheets: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/brochures/brochures.htm

Greenwood Community Meeting – Location Change

vanders — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:23:32 +0000

Due to the amount of interest, the venue for tonight’s community meeting has moved from Upper Crust Catering to the Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church. The meeting is sponsored by the Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Police Department to talk about the recent arsons in the Greenwood neighborhood and what residents can do to help prevent arson. The meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10 at the Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 7500 Greenwood Avenue North.

Change Your Smoke Alarm Battery When You Change Your Clock

vanders — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:00:41 +0000

As the end of Daylight Saving Time approaches on Sunday, November 1st, the Seattle Fire Department wants to remind residents to change their smoke alarm batteries when they change their clocks. Smoke alarms powered by lithium long-life batteries do not need to be changed yearly.

Most fire deaths happen in homes without working smoke alarms. The most commonly cited cause of nonworking smoke alarms: dead or missing batteries. In a home fire, a working smoke alarm can cut the risk of death by half.

The Seattle Fire Department can install smoke alarms and batteries free of charge in homes where the homeowner is either a senior citizen, living on a low income, or has a disability. If you live outside the city of Seattle, please contact your local Fire Department to request assistance.

Smoke alarm maintenance is one of the simplest methods of protecting your home and family from fires. For more information or to request assistance changing smoke alarms and batteries contact the Seattle Fire Department at (206) 386-1337.

Home Heating Safety Tips from Seattle Fire Department

vanders — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:37:03 +0000

Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January and February, and even though it’s only October, cold temperatures outside mean Seattle residents are turning on heaters at home. As the cold weather begins, please keep in mind that while baseboard heaters are very efficient, they can be a serious fire hazard if used carelessly. Common sense can prevent a baseboard heater fire. Any time a flammable object comes in contact with a heater, a fire could result.

Home Heating Safety Tips

Keep items away from all heaters, including baseboard heaters.
All furniture, curtains, or any other items should be kept at least 12 inches away from baseboard heaters.
Never block the flow of heat.
Have your heating systems and chimneys inspected, cleaned and repaired prior to the heating season.

Make certain smoke alarms are installed on every level of your home and outside every sleeping area. Test your smoke alarms monthly. You should change the batteries at least once a year unless you use long life lithium batteries which last up to ten years.

For more fires safety information visit: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/brochures/brochures.htm

Seattle Fire Kicks off Fire Prevention Month Friday

vanders — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:26:22 +0000

On Friday, October 2, the Seattle Fire Department, in partnership with the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) will kick off Fire Prevention Month with a special program: Lessons of the Past & Present: What the Seattle Fire can teach us about fire safety today. Admission to the museum will be free, and from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., visitors can tour antique fire trucks, a modern ladder truck and see arson dog demonstrations with Henny the Arson Dog.

Inside MOHAI, kids can talk with firefighters about their jobs today, and enjoy firefighter story times and fire safety activities. Also on view is the Great Seattle Fire exhibit which includes the infamous glue pot that supposedly started the massive blaze.

During October, MOHAI educators, in partnership with the Seattle Fire Department, will be offering an elementary classroom program: Cracking the History Code: Lessons of the Great Seattle Fire. Registration is available at www.seattlehistory.org.

For a complete schedule of Seattle Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Month activities, including Firefighter Story Times at Seattle Public Libraries, visit www.seattle.gov/fire

New Smoke Alarms Installed in 33 Haller Lake Homes

vanders — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:49:45 +0000

The Seattle Fire Department Public Education Unit organized a smoke alarm canvas event at a mobile home park near Haller Lake earlier this month. Firefighters from Fire Station 24 and Spanish speaking volunteers from the Red Cross went door-to-door installing smoke alarms and handing out fire safety information. Thirty-three homes received new smoke alarms.

Seattle homeowners can contact the Seattle Fire Department Public Education Office at 206.386.1337 to see if they qualify for a free smoke alarm installation. To learn more about smoke alarms visit: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/smokealarms/smokeAlarms.htm.

October is Fire Prevention Month

vanders — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:50:13 +0000

This October, the Seattle Fire Department is hosting a series of events for children and families to celebrate Fire Prevention Month.

Lessons of the Past & Present: What the Great Seattle Fire can teach us about fire safety today.

Hosted by the Musuem of History and Industry on Friday, October 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tour antique fire trucks
Talk with firefighters and learn about their jobs today
Arson dog demonstrations
Firefighter story times
Fire safety activities for kids
Seattle Fire Department history
Tour the Great Seattle Fire exhibit
FREE ADMISSION- Bring your families!

Firefighter Story Times and The Seattle Public Library

Firefighters read fire safety stories to preschoolers at local library branches throughout the month.

Thursday, October 1
Central Library @ 10:30 AM
With Fire Chief Gregory Dean

Friday, October 2
Museum of History & Industry @ 10:30

Wednesday, October 7
Capital Hill Branch @ 10:30 AM
With Fire Marshal Chief John Nelsen

Thursday, October 8
University Branch @ 10:30 AM

Wednesday, October 14
High Point Branch @ 3:00 PM

Thursday, October 15
Lake City Branch @ 10:30 AM
Fremont Branch @ 11:00 AM

School Programs and the Museum of History and Industry: Cracking the History Code: Lessons of the Great Seattle Fire

Offered throughout the month of October
Facilitated by museum educators and the Seattle Fire Department
To register: www.seattlehistory.org

Seattle Fire Department to Canvas Mobile Home Park in Haller Lake with Smoke Alarms

vanders — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:23:35 +0000

In an effort to increase the number of homes with working smoke alarms, on Saturday, September 12 Seattle firefighters will go door-to-door installing smoke alarms and replacing smoke alarm batteries in a mobile home park in the Haller Lake neighborhood. The canvas will begin at North 125th Street and Stone Ave. N.

Nationally, over 20% of homes do not have working smoke alarms and most deaths caused by fire happen in homes without working smoke alarms. A working smoke alarm can cut the risk of death by half in a residential fire.

Seattle homeowners who do not receive a visit from the Seattle Fire Department on September 12 can contact the Seattle Fire Department Public Education Office at 206.386.1337 to see if they qualify for a free smoke alarm installation. To learn more about smoke alarms visit: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/smokealarms/smokeAlarms.htm.

Arson Investigation

vanders — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:03:39 +0000

Seattle Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit has determined that a series of fires in the Greenwood Neighborhood were intentionally set. The Seattle Police Department is handling the criminal investigations. At least four fires have been set in the area in the past two months. Three of those fires occurred in the last week. There are no suspects at this time and investigators have not determined that these fires are connected; however, the Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Police Department want to inform residents and give them arson prevention tips. Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the Arson Alarm Hotline number at 1-800-55-ARSON.

Later today, firefighters will distribute Arson Watch Flyers with tips on steps individuals can take to make a difference in protecting their home or business.

August 13 – 100 Block of NW 84th Street

Set fire spread to a home at approximately 4:31 p.m. A 50-year old male suffered burns and was transported to Harborview Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. Damage to the home totaled $170,000.

August 13 – 1100 Block of N 98th Street
Set fire in a first floor office of a mixed use commercial/residential building at 3:21 a.m. Two occupants of an apartment above the office were able to exit the building safely. Firefighters arrived to find a small fire in the office area on the first floor. Damage to the business totaled $15,000.

August 12 – 7700 Block of Greenwood Ave North
Fire set on the exterior of a three story residence at 1:33 p.m. There were no people inside the house and the fire was concentrated on the exterior of the building. Damage was estimated at $100.

June 19 – 8700 Block of Greenwood Avenue North
Fire set in the basement of a vacant and closed restaurant around 10:00 p.m. There were no people inside the building and no injuries as a result of this fire. Damage was estimated at $500.