SEATTLE – On April 11 around 12:00 p.m., the Fire Alarm Center received a 911 call reporting smoke coming from a house located on the 9200 Blk. of 25 Ave NW.  The first arriving engine company reported smoke coming from the roof of a house with fire on floor two.  Crews responded with a quick and coordinated fire attack while simultaneously searching the house for any occupants but none were home.  The fire was under control within 30 minutes and extinguished within two hours.  At the height of the fire there were six engine and three ladder companies.  There were no injuries to any firefighters.

Fire Investigators ruled the fire as accidental caused by electrical wiring igniting combustibles in the void space between floors one and two.  Estimated loss is $100,000 to contents and $300,000 to structure. 

SEATTLE – On March 30 around 3:45 a.m., the Fire Alarm Center received multiple 911 calls reporting a fire at a duplex, but later determined to be a commercial building, located on the 700 Blk of 23 Ave.  Engine 6 arrived first and reported fire on the outside of the structure.  Crews knocked the fire down before transitioning to an interior attack.  There were no occupants inside the building and no injuries to any firefighters.  The fire was extinguished within 30 minutes.  At the height of the fire there were four engine and three ladder companies.

Fire Investigators have determined that this fire was intentionally set and is ruling it as arson.  The estimated damage to the structure is $150,000 and $50,000 to contents.

The Seattle Police Department is conducting the follow-up investigation. Anyone with information about this fire should contact SPD’s Arson and Bomb Squad at (206) 684-8980. Callers can choose to remain anonymous.

Photos courtesy of John Odegard

SEATTLE – A series of set fires occurred in the SODO neighborhood beginning late in the evening on March 24 and continuing through the early morning hours of March 25. A dumpster receptacle, garbage bin, construction materials and two forklifts were damaged from the fires. Combustibles next to a building were set in two of the fires. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries and no significant property loss.

Fire investigators responded to each scene to conduct an investigation, and determined they were intentionally set. The Seattle Police Department will conduct the follow-up investigation, and determine if the fires are related. Please report any information you believe may be related to arson to SPD’s Arson and Bomb Squad at (206) 684-8980. Persons providing information may remain anonymous.

View an interactive map of the fire locations online, which includes a description of what caught fire and damage estimates for each location.

Below is a list of locations of where the fires occurred:

• 2700 Blk. of Occidental Ave. S.
• 2700 Blk. of 1st Ave. S.
• 2900 Blk. of 1st Ave. S.
• 3300 Blk. of 2nd Ave. S.
• 200 Blk. of S. Hanford St.
• Occidental Ave. S. and S. Lander St.
• 2900 Blk. of 4th Ave. S.
• 2400 Blk. of 3rd Ave. S.

In light of these recent fires, here are a few simple steps you can take to reduce the chance of an arson fire at your home or business:

OUTSIDE:

• Secure home, garage areas and businesses by locking doors and windows.
• Clean up wastepaper, grasses, weeds, litter, or anything that can burn from around buildings. Clear carport areas of all combustibles.
• Locate dumpsters, recycle bins and yard waste containers at least five feet away from walls and roof eave lines. If possible, keep them in a secured area. Do not allow them to become overfilled.
• Place locks on commercial dumpsters or keep in secured area. Locks may be available through your contracted service provider. Use only metal or metal-lined receptacles.
• Residential customers can call Seattle Public Utilities at (206) 684-7665 to arrange for delivery and installation of locks for recycling and garbage containers.
• Trim shrubbery from doors and windows to improve visibility.
• Install motion-sensor exterior lights or consider leaving lights on.

INSIDE:

• For businesses, check fire and life safety systems, including fire extinguishers, to ensure they are working and in compliance with codes.
• For homeowners, test smoke alarms to ensure they are working.
• Develop and practice a fire escape plan. Be sure it includes knowing all the exits and a meeting place.
• If you have a fire extinguisher, know where it is located and how to use it.
• Keep exit ways clear of items which could slow evacuation efforts.

SEATTLE – Firefighters responded to the 100 Block of 14th Avenue just after 12:25 a.m. on March 18 for a report of a fire in a four-story apartment building. Engine 6 from the Central District arrived first on scene to find heavy smoke and flames coming from a window on the second floor. They quickly upgraded the response to a 2-alarm, to bring in additional units for firefighting efforts.

Smoke alarms could be heard throughout the building on arrival. Crews initially attacked the fire by putting water on the exterior of the building, while another engine company went interior to push fire out with hand lines. The fire was rapidly progressing, but due to efficient firefighting efforts, units had the fire under control within 17 minutes. Firefighters prevented further spread of the fire in the building and actively protected the structure directly to the south from also catching fire.

During the search of the building, crews found a victim in the primary fire unit on the second floor. Unfortunately their injuries were fatal. The Medical Examiner and Seattle Police Department responded to the scene to begin their investigation. The American Red Cross was requested to assist displaced residents. Four apartment units sustained fire damage resulting in the units being inhabitable.

Fire investigators have ruled the cause of the fire as undetermined, pending autopsy results. The fire started in a studio apartment and extended into the unit above via the exterior window. Total estimated loss is $295,000.

SEATTLE – On March 13 just after 2 a.m., firefighters responded to the 6000 Block of 19th Avenue South for a report of heavy flames and smoke coming from a residence in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. SFD units arrived on scene and reported a well-involved fire in a car port which had spread to the attached residence and the house directly to the north. The incident commander quickly upgraded the response to a 2-alarm to bring in additional units for firefighting efforts.

Crews actively battled fires in both structures. Fire damage was evident to the interior of the home of the primary fire residence as well as four vehicles and the entire carport. The attic space and floor two of the neighboring house suffered fire damage as well. Ladder companies conducted a search of both residences and reported that all occupants had safely evacuated. The American Red Cross was requested to the scene for nine displaced residents.

At the height of the fire, there were 10 engines and four ladder trucks on scene. Crews had the fire extinguished within 44 minutes. There were no reported injuries to members of the public or firefighters.

Fire investigators responded and are ruling it as undetermined pending further information. A total of four vehicles sustained heavy fire damage, two under the car port and two in the driveway. Total estimated loss is $350,000.

In case you did not test and replace your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarm batteries this past weekend for the the start of Daylight Saving Time, now is the time to do so.

Changing smoke and CO alarm batteries at least once a year is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce home fire deaths and CO poisoning. In fact, working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by nearly one-half  by providing an early warning and critical extra seconds to escape. Consider installing a long-life battery powered smoke/CO alarm to avoid yearly battery replacements.

Every home in Seattle should have the protection of smoke/CO alarms. The Seattle Fire Department can install 10 year long-life combination smoke/CO alarms free of charge in homes where the homeowner is either an older adult, 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. To request a free smoke/CO alarm from the Seattle Fire Department fill out an online form or call (206) 386-1337 or email fireinfo@seattle.gov.

Learn more about smoke/CO alarms.

Fire Chief Harold Scoggins and Firefighter Matt Runte

Every year thousands of firefighters from around the world come to Seattle to compete in the world’s largest firefighter fundraising event.   Money raised will go towards fighting Leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkins disease and myeloma which are blood cancers that affect firefighters at a higher rate than the general population.

Firefighters representing 341 fire departments wore their full firefighting protective gear including their breathing apparatus and climbed 69 floors (788 vertical feet) using only the air available in the bottles on their backs. Even though the event is run like a race to the top, the real competition is how much money each fire department collects.

Seattle Fire – Team Tristan Smith with about 80 members strong are working hard to try and take the lead on this important fund raising competition. On race day the Seattle Firefighter Team was in 3rd place for fund raising capabilities (behind Everett and Boise).  Please support your home team and donate to Seattle Fire – Team Tristan Smith, it is just a click away.  The deadline is April 11, 2019 so keep pushing this valuable fundraising event and make Seattle #1!

http://www.llswa.org/site/TR/LLSWA/llswaFF?team_id=67832&pg=team&fr_id=1620

SEATTLE – On Sunday, February 24, 2019, around 7:05 p.m., the Seattle Fire Alarm Center received a 911 call reporting smoke coming from a house located on the 2800 Blk of NW 61 St.  Engine 18 responded from the Ballard station, and upon arrival reported fire coming from the back of a house.  Engine 18 made an interior fire attack from this location while other crews were searching the residence for possible occupants.  An adult male was located and removed, but unfortunately his injuries were fatal.

The fire was under control by 8:00 p.m. At the height of the fire, there were six engine companies and three ladder companies.  There were no injuries to any firefighters.

Fire Investigators have ruled this fire as undetermined pending results from the Medical Examiner’s autopsy report.  Total estimated loss is $270,000.

Valentine’s Day is Thursday, and many people may attempt to express their love with a home-cooked meal.

In Seattle and across the nation, cooking is one of the leading causes of residential fires. But don’t despair: you don’t have to give up on your dreams of being Top Chef to keep your beloved safe. Use these tips to make sure your dinner goes off without a hitch:

• Clean your oven and stove first. Butter, oil and grease residue can easily catch fire.
• Remove flammable items from the stove or cook top. Dishtowels, paper towels and shopping bags could otherwise ignite.
• Have a large lid or metal cooking sheet by your cooktop. Smother any pan flare ups or flames with the lid while protecting your hand in a gloved potholder.
• DO NOT use water (or snow) to douse a cooktop fire. Oil and water do not mix, and serious burns can result.
• Always remain in the kitchen when frying, broiling or grilling.
• Keep any pets (or children if this is a family event) at least three feet away from any cooking surface.
• If you must leave the kitchen when cooking, turn off the stove or set a timer to remind you to check the food often.
• Use battery-operated flames.
  

  Give these fire safety conversation hearts to the ones you love this Valentine’s Day.

Test it for the one you love

It may not be terribly romantic, but true love means regularly testing your smoke alarm. Nothing says “I love you” more than a combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarm with a long-lasting battery life.

All teasing aside, smoke/carbon monoxide alarms are critical to your safety. Roughly three out of every five fire deaths happen in homes without alarms or where they are not working. They should be installed in each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on each level of a residence.

The Seattle Fire Department installs free smoke/carbon monoxide alarms to qualifying Seattle homeowners: live in the city of Seattle; own and live in your home; and identify as a senior or live on a low income or have a disability. This includes strobe smoke alarms for those with hearing loss.

Contact us at 206-386-1337 or complete this online form.