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News and events from the Seattle Fire Department

2-Alarm fire damages townhomes under construction in the Interbay neighborhood

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SEATTLE — Dec. 11, at 12:47 a.m., our Fire Alarm Center received calls reporting heavy smoke and flames visible coming from a three-story multifamily townhome under construction at the 1300 block of W. Newton St. At 12:51 a.m., Engine 20 arrived first on scene and confirmed a working fire impacting the entire west wall of the building. Despite the rain, gusty winds quickly accelerated the fire to spread throughout the building.

Firefighters rushed to get water on the fire, but were forced to fight in a defensive strategy due to the risk of exterior scaffolding collapsing in addition to unknown conditions of the floors as the building was in the midst of construction. Around 2:18 a.m., flames broke through the roof, but firefighters raised an aerial ladder to pour water directly onto the roof in order to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring homes and trees. Crews were able to get the fire under control by 4 a.m.

A neighboring home was evacuated as a safety precaution, and no injuries were reported. Fire investigators ruled the cause as undetermined.

Firefighters rescue two from home on fire within the South Park neighborhood

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Photo by John Odegard

SEATTLE — Dec. 9, at 7:22 a.m., our Fire Alarm Center received calls reporting flames coming from a second-story window of a singly-family residence at the 800 block of S. Southern St. Engines 26 and 27 along with Medic 26 were the first units on scene and confirmed a working fire in the second floor.

As they approached the home, they encountered an adult male occupant of the home that escaped the fire by jumping out of a second-story window. The man reported two more people were still in the home. Crews rushed into the home to conduct a primary search and found two adult males; one was in serious condition while the other was stable. Paramedics transported both men to the hospital for further medical care.

Photo by John Odegard

The officer in charge requested an additional dispatch for an mass casualty incident asking for additional resources in case more people were found in the home. Firefighters continued a primary, then secondary search of the home to confirm no additional people were inside the home. Crews had water on the fire within two minutes of arriving on scene and were able to quickly get it under control.

The fire originated in a second-story bedroom and extended into the adjacent rooms along with the attic above. Investigators ruled the fire as undetermined with an estimated loss of $175,000.

Photo by John Odegard

Safety message: Make sure to test your smoke alarms every month. Extinguish all candles and incense, then turn off portable heaters. Close all bedroom doors before going to bed because this can help slow the spread of smoke and fire.

2-Alarm fire in Queen Anne

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Photo by KIRO 7

SEATTLE — Nov. 30, at 1:46 p.m., our Fire Alarm Center received calls reporting heavy smoke and visible flames coming from a 2.5-story home on the 500 block of W. Highland Dr. Our first units arrived within four minutes from when the first calls came in. They confirmed a working fire within the residence and verified all occupants safely evacuated.

Photo by John Odegard

By 2 p.m., crews were able to get water on the fire and conduct a primary search of the entire building. They also reported the majority of the fire was within the attic space and extending through the roof. Gusts of wind hitting the north side of the home escalated the intensity of the fire which led our Deputy Chief to upgrade the response to a 2-alarm fire.

At 2:29 p.m., crews were ordered to evacuate the home due to reports that the ceiling of the second floor, directly below the attic, were beginning to collapse and intensify with heat. From then on, firefighters were in a defensive strategy to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring homes and trees.

By 3:24 p.m., firefighters had the fire under control and maintained a presence overnight to monitor for flare ups.

No injuries were reported and our investigators determined the fire was accidental, but are continuing their investigation to determine the likely cause and estimated loss.

Oily rags likely cause of 2-Alarm fire in SoDo

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Photo by John Odegard

SEATTLE — At 6:42 p.m., our Fire Alarm Center received calls reporting a fire at the 700 block of Lander St. Engine 13 was first on scene and confirmed an exterior fire on the west side of a commercial warehouse that had already extended inside and up into the exposed rafters. Crews from Engine 13 worked quickly to put water on the fire while Rescue 1 gained access inside the warehouse to conduct a primary search. Ladder 3 arrived shortly thereafter and climbed onto the roof to cut holes to provide ventilation.

At 6:59 p.m., Battalion 5 upgraded the response to a 2-alarm fire requesting more resources to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby structures. Ten minutes later, crews had the fire under control and completed a primary search confirming no occupants were inside the building.

At 7:24 p.m., the fire was knocked down and crews transitioned to overhaul to check for hot spots. At the height of the incident, more than 70 firefighters were dispatched.

Fire investigators determined the incident was accidental and likely caused by improperly discarded oily rags. Estimated loss is $100,000.

Photo by John Odegard

Safety message:

Oils commonly used in oil-based paints, stains and varnishes release heat as they dry. A pile of oily rags can be dangerous because as they dry, the heat is trapped and builds up to potentially cause a fire.

Here are a few safety tips for storing wet, oily rags:

  • Never leave cleaning rags in a pile. At the end of the day, take the rags outside to dry.
  • Hang the rags outside or spread them on the ground. Weigh them down. Do this so they do not blow away. Make sure they are not in a pile. Keep them away from buildings.
  • Put dried rags in a metal container. Make sure the cover is tight. Fill the container with a water and detergent solution. This will break down the oils.
  • Keep containers of oily rags in a cool place. Keep them out of direct sunlight. Keep them away from other heat sources. Check with your town for information on disposing of them.

Vapors from flammable and combustible liquids can also ignite, causing a fire. Many commonly used flammable liquids include gasoline, lacquers and nail polish while common combustible liquids include paint thinner, oil-based paints and stains.

Safety tips for storing flammable or combustible liquids:

  • Flammable and combustible liquids should not be used near an open flame. Do not smoke when working with these liquids.
  • If you spill liquids on your clothing, remove your clothing and place it outside to dry. Once dry, clothing can be laundered.
  • Keep liquids in their original containers. Keep them tightly capped or sealed. Never store the liquids in glass containers.
  • Use gasoline only as motor fuel. Never use it as a cleaner. Never use it to break down grease. Never bring gasoline indoors, even in small amounts.
  • Store gasoline ONLY in a container that is sold for that purpose. Make sure the container is tightly capped when not in use. NEVER store gasoline containers in a basement or in the occupied space of a building. Keep them in an outbuilding, a detached garage, or a shed outdoors.

National Pet Fire Safety Day

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July 15th is National Pet Fire Safety Day. Don’t forget to include your furry family members into your emergency plan should a fire occur. According to American Humane, more than half a million pets are impacted by house fires every year. Sometimes, the house fires are started by the pets themselves. Take a few minutes to prepare your home to prevent fires and to ensure your pets can get out safely if fire happens.

Photo of Bailey, the cavalier pup seated on Rescue One's apparatus.

Tips to Keep Pets Safe from House Fires:

  • Extinguish Open Flames – Pets are generally curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace. Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flame before leaving your home.
  • Secure Young Pets – Especially with young puppies, keep them confined away from potential fire-starting hazards when you are away from home.
  • Keep Pets Near Entrances – When leaving pets home alone, keep them in areas or rooms near entrances where firefighters can easily find them.
  • Practicing Escape Routes with Pets – Keep collars and leashes at the ready in case you have to evacuate quickly with your pet or firefighters need to rescue your pet.
  • Invest in flameless candles: These candles contain a light bulb rather than an open flame and take the danger out of your pet knocking over a candle.
  • Avoid glass water bowls on wooden decks: The sun’s rays, when filtered through glass water bowls, can heat up and ignite the wooden deck. Choose stainless steel or ceramic bowls instead. 
  • Keep pets near entrances when you’re out: Keep collars and leashes at the ready in case firefighters need to rescue your dog. When leaving pets home alone, please keep them in areas or rooms near entrances where firefighters can easily find them. 

2-Alarm vacant building fire in the U-District

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Photo by John Odegard

SEATTLE — At 10:19 a.m., firefighters responded to a working fire in a vacant building at the 5200 block of University Way NE. When crews arrived on scene, they confirmed that an adult male and adult female were able to safely evacuate the building. Our crews were able to get water on the fire and begin a primary search within four minutes of arriving on scene. However, the primary search was aborted when the roof began to collapse.

Photo by John Odegard
Photo by John Odegard

The incident was upgraded to a 2-alarm as flames and heavy smoke billowed out from the collapsed roof. 93 fire personnel were dispatched to the scene consisting of eleven fire engines, five ladder trucks and additional support units. Firefighters remained in a defensive strategy where they poured water onto the fire from a safe distance. They had the fire under control by 11:02 a.m. and continued to extinguish hot spots into the early afternoon.

The incident is currently under investigation and no injuries were reported.

2-Alarm fire near the Seattle Center

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Photo by John Odegard

SEATTLE — Just before 4 p.m. on June 8, our Fire Alarm Center received multiple calls reporting heavy smoke coming from a vacant building on the 500 block of Harrison St. When crews arrived on scene, bystanders informed them there might be a person still inside on the 2nd floor of the building on fire. Firefighters acted quickly to attack the fire and search the building, but as they made entry they encountered high heat, heavy smoke and unstable floors. Due to the deteriorating conditions, crews were forced to retreat back outside to a defensive position. They utilized thermal imaging cameras to peer through the smoke billowing from the windows and were unable to locate a person in the building.

By 4:23 p.m., the response was upgraded to a 2-alarm fire in which 10 fire engines, 5 ladder trucks and additional support units were dispatched. In total, 94 fire personnel responded. Crews spent hours pouring water on the fire while Puget Sound Energy secured natural gas and Seattle City Light shut off electricity to the building.

The incident commander began demobilizing units around 7 p.m., but as of 9 p.m., two fire engines and a ladder truck remain on scene to extinguish flare ups.

The incident is currently under investigation and no injuries were reported at this time.

6/9 UPDATE: Fire investigators ruled the incident as undetermined because they are unable to safely enter the building due to concerns of structural collapse.

Fire in West Seattle neighborhood

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SEATTLE – At 6:05 p.m., our Fire Alarm Center received multiple calls reporting a fire on the top floor unit of a residential building at the 4400 block of 44th Ave SW. A nearby off-duty Seattle firefighter saw flames coming out of the building windows and attempted a primary search and rescue. He located an adult female collapsed in the fire room, but was unable to pull her to safety due to heavy black smoke filling the area. Engine 32 and Ladder 11 were the first units on scene and met with the off-duty firefighter as he was able to confirm the exact location of the occupant in order to expedite a rescue. Engine 32 entered the fire room to pour water on the fire while Ladder 11 found the occupant and rescued her from the building. Paramedics took over medical care and transported her to Harborview Medical Center. The occupant/patient is a 79 year-old female in critical condition.

Additional firefighters arrived on scene to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading throughout the building. The fire was extinguished by 6:40 p.m.

May 15 update: Our investigators determined the fire was accidental and likely caused by an electrical failure. Estimated loss is still pending.

May 17 update: Estimated loss is $350,000.

Trial by fire for Seattle’s newest firefighters

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The Seattle Fire Department will train new firefighter recruits at a vacant home near the Sunset Hill and Loyal Heights neighborhoods from May 4-6 at 2904 NW 80th St. Live-fire training is an opportunity for our new fire recruits to work with our officers and face real fire scenarios in a controlled setting. This experience is vital to the development of new recruits as these fires act as a final evaluation of what they have learned over the past 13 weeks of training and focus on fire attack, teamwork and communication.

We conduct this training exercise twice a year in the City and make every effort to minimize the impact on the neighborhood. Local streets will be closed to ensure the safety of the community as well as the firefighters in training. From 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the three days of training, 29th Ave. NW, in between Loyal Way NW and NW 80th St will be closed. Parking along the curbs of both sides of 29th Ave. NW. 100-feet east and west of the houses will be cordoned off. Firefighters will help direct access to that block for residents in the immediate area. We recognize that this training exercise may present inconveniences to your daily schedules and we thank you for your patience and understanding. Our firefighters are among the best in the nation because of the training we are able to provide and because of the support we receive from our community.

On each day, we plan to have 4-5 fire evolutions spread throughout the day each lasting 15-20 minutes. Residents will see smoke as controlled burns are set inside the vacant structures. All carpet, plastics and toxic synthetic materials have been removed along with required asbestos abatement. The training officers will set wood fires in a controlled method with safety officers on-hand during the exercises. This training is conducted under the strict regulations and rules of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. The smoke coming from the buildings during the live-fire is equivalent to smoke from a fireplace. After the fires are out, most of what you see coming from the structure is steam.

Neighbors are welcome to come and watch the live-fire training. Typical training days begin around 7 a.m. with the live-fire training starting at 9 a.m. and lasting until 5 p.m. Any questions can be directed to SFD’s Public Affairs division at sfdpio@seattle.gov.

Fatal fire in the Central District

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Seattle – At 5:22 p.m., dispatchers received multiple calls reporting a fire in a two-story residence at the 1600 block of 18th Ave. Engine 25 and Ladder 10 both arrived first on scene and confirmed a working fire with flames and heavy smoke visible from the front-right corner of the home. Neighbors informed the crews that the home had a single occupant who was unaccounted for.

Crews from Engine 25 worked quickly to pour water on the fire while additional firefighters conducted a primary search of the entire home. Unfortunately, they found a deceased adult male inside the fire room. Crews knocked down the primary fire within 15 minutes of first arrival and were able to fully extinguish it within half an hour.

Our investigators are working alongside SPD on determining the cause of the fire. No additional injuries were reported.

April 8 UPDATE: Our investigators determined the fire was accidental and likely caused by a portable space heater placed too close to combustible materials. For safety, we recommend placing portable heaters at least 3 feet away from all combustible materials such as curtains, blankets and furniture.