Fireline Blog Seattle Fire Department

Fire Line

News and events from the Seattle Fire Department

2-Alarm fire in Lake City neighborhood

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SEATTLE — 10:53 p.m.: Our Fire Alarm Center received 911 calls reporting heavy smoke coming from a 1-story strip mall at the 3000 Block of NE 127th St. Engine 39 and Ladder 5 were the first units on scene and confirmed a well involved fire in retail stores located in the middle of the building with heavy smoke coming from a small void space connecting all the businesses in between the ceiling and the roof.

At 11:01 p.m., the response was upgraded to a 2-Alarm as the fire quickly spread throughout the building. Crews transitioned to a defensive strategy by pouring water onto the fire from outside because it was unsafe for firefighters to enter the building. Sections of the roof collapsed 30 minutes into the fire. Puget Sound Energy secured the natural gas lines from the building while Seattle City Light turned off the electricity.

Crews had the fire under control by 12:26 a.m. and no injuries were reported. A total of 11 fire engines, 5 ladder trucks and additional support units consisting of 84 firefighters responded to this incident. A few units will remain on scene throughout the night to monitor for flare ups.

Update (12/29): fire investigators have ruled the fire as incendiary (intentionally set). A total of eight units were a total loss, seven of which were occupied by businesses. Total estimated loss is $2.7 million. Information on this fire has been shared with the Seattle Police Department’s Arson and Bomb Squad for a follow-up investigation.

3-Alarm fire in University District

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Updated 12/25: Our fire investigators ruled the cause of the fire as undetermined as they are unable to safely enter the building due to concerns for structural integrity

Seattle — 11:46 a.m.: Our Fire Alarm Center received multiple reports of heavy smoke coming from the vacant Seven Gables Theater at the 900 Block of NE 50th St. Engine 31 was first on scene and confirmed a well involved fire with flames visible on the 2nd floor and heavy smoke. The building was confirmed vacant and there were no reports of a person inside. The vacant, unkempt building with heavy smoke led crews to fight in a defensive strategy where they poured water onto the fire from a outside at a safer distance.

By 1 p.m., the incident scaled up to a 3-alarm fire as crews continued to pour water on the fire. More than 130 firefighters consisting of 14 fire engines, six ladder trucks and additional support units responded to the fire. Twenty minutes later, the roof began to collapse forcing crews to relocate their apparatuses to a safe distance. The sidewalk and roadway adjacent to the building were closed off as a safety precaution.

Firefighters were able to get the fire under control by 2:10 p.m. and began pairing down the response. A fire engine and ladder truck will remain onsite overnight to monitor for flare ups.

Our fire investigators ruled the cause of the fire as undetermined as they are unable to safely enter the building due to concerns for structural integrity. No injuries were reported. No other buildings sustained significant damage from this fire.

Residential fire on 2100 block of E. Denny Way

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Updated Dec. 3: Fire investigators ruled the fire was accidental.

SEATTLE — At 7:09 p.m. on Dec. 2, the Fire Alarm Center received reports of a fire with potentially one person trapped in a single family residence on the 2100 Block of E. Denny Way. By 7:13 p.m., Engine 25 arrived first on scene followed by Ladder 10, Battalion 2 and Engine 34, respectively. Crews confirmed dark smoke surrounding the home.

As crews from Engine 25 and 34 worked on getting water on the fire, Ladder 10 company located an unresponsive adult male in a room adjacent to the fire room. Unable to safely access the occupant from within the home, Ladder 10 sawed a hole into the room to quickly rescue him. The patient is an approx. 40 year old male who was found in critical condition. Paramedics performed lifesaving efforts and transported him to Harborview Medical Center. Crews performed additional searches to confirm no other occupants were found inside the home.

The fire was extinguished by 7:38 p.m. and no additional injuries were reported. A total of seven Engines, three Ladder trucks and ten additional support units were dispatched to the scene. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

National First Responders Day

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Collage of Seattle Firefighters and paramedics.

U.S. Congress designated Oct. 28, as National First Responders Day to honor the firefighters, paramedics, police officers, EMTs and all those who are first on the scene in emergency situations. We thank all of our firefighters and paramedics along with the partnering agencies we work with to help people in emergencies. #NationalFirstRespondersDay #HereToServe

Fire Prevention Month: Cooking Safety

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October is Fire Prevention Month and the Seattle Fire Department is publishing weekly tips on their Fireline Blog and social media to inform and promote fire safety. Fall signals the beginning of cold, rainy weather and shorter days which prompts Seattle residents to close their windows, wear warmer clothes and dust off their portable heaters. As a result, Seattle Fire wants to ensure everyone’s safety — starting in the kitchen.

Most home fires start in the kitchen when a person starts cooking and forgets about the food on the stove.  It is easy to get distracted by a person, a phone call or an electronic device. A fire can start in seconds.

How to be safe:

  1. Stay in the kitchen when cooking with oil or grease
  2. Always use a timer when cooking to remind you that the stove is on
  3. Keep the stove area clean
  4. Keep a lid near the stove in case of fire
    • Never pour water on a grease or oil fire
    • The best way to put out a small pan fire is to slide a lid over the pot or pan.
    • Turn the burner off
    • Do not try to move a burning pan.
    • Remove the lid only after the fire is out and cooled off.

National Preparedness Month — Week 2: Build a Kit

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Being prepared for any emergency is as simple as planning ahead and putting together an emergency kit does not have to be difficult or expensive. Seattle’s Office of Emergency Management recommends that your kit has enough supplies to last you seven to 10 days. It’s also good to have a smaller to-go kit in case you need to quickly leave your home. Having kits at work and in your car is also a good idea.

To get you started, here are five things that are absolutely necessary to have in an emergency kit.

Water

  • 1 gallon per person per day
  • 1/2 for drinking, 1/2 for cooking/sanitation

Food

  • Store food that’s high in calories and has a long shelf-life
  • Consider meal replacement bars, canned foods and dry food items that don’t need to be cooked to eat
  • Make sure to include food you like to eat 

Light Source

  • Avoid candles to minimize fire risk
  • Include safe light options like a battery-powered flashlight with extra batteries or a hand-crank flashlight
  • Light sticks are a long-lasting source of light that are inexpensive and fits easily into any size bag

Warm & Dry Clothes

  • Include at least one change of clothing
  • If you get wet, it’s important that you get dry as soon as possible because moisture pulls heat away from your body (wool or synthetic clothing that wicks moisture away from your body is recommended)
  • To stay warm and dry you can also pack extra blankets, a tarp or rain gear

First Aid Kit

  • Include items for basic care like adhesive bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze pads, scissors, tweezers and pain-relief medication
  • Make sure to include medications and equipment specific to your needs

After the five basics, what you stock in your kit is up to you. The information below will give you a number of things you can add to your kit and some fun and easy ways to put them together, not only for your home, but your car, workplace and school.  The most important thing is to start.  Don’t be one of the people who after the disaster says, “I wish I had put a kit together.” 

Take These Actions:

  1. Check out Seattle OEM’s preparedness website to customize supplies to your own family’s needs.
  2. Download the infographic of essential supplies.

For More:

Virtual Fire Day is back on for Saturday, Sept 26!

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In response to COVID-19, the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) is temporarily closed, but our annual Fire Day event will now be available ONLINE! In addition, for the first time we will be live streaming events in Spanish!

Tune into our Facebook Page at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26!

Fire Day starts off with a Story Time sessions with our Fire Chief followed opportunities to ask the Fire Chief as well as the firefighters at Station 39. Then, families can watch tours of a fire engine, station and see firefighters donning their bunking gear. Stay tuned at 11:30 a.m. as we will feature a demonstration by Search and Rescue Dog, Cannon, and his handler, Firefighter Jason Kent. The event will wrap up with a Day in the Life Q&A session with Lt. Amina Bakke and Firefighter Leo Castaneda.

September is National Preparedness Month

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This year’s theme: Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today.

After the tragedies of September 11, 2001, the Department of Homeland Security designated September as National Preparedness Month. The month serves as a reminder to think about what to do before disasters strike. While so much of 2020 has been unpredictable, the importance of making a plan with loved ones and knowing what to do has never been more critical.

How you receive and exchange information is a key part of your family’s emergency plan. Take a few moments to talk with your loved ones about how you will stay in touch, especially when regular systems go down. Texting is still the way to go during disasters, but a good back-up is to carry a hard copy of important phone numbers with you. Also, think about a back-up power supply and how to keep your devices charged to stay connected.

New for 2020:
The Seattle Office of Emergency Management has created an easy way to receive emergency notifications. Simply text “Seattle” to 67283 to opt-in on real-time emergency messaging like major incidents and what areas to avoid.

For a tongue-in-cheek look at emergency planning, check out FEMA’s video’s on Earthquake and Hurricane.

In the coming weeks, we’ll share more tips and resources to help you stay safe, stay well and stay prepared.

How to safely store oily rags

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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.

Boating Safety Tips

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Sunday, August 9: Sadly, we had two water responses that evening that did not have a good outcome. Just after 5:30 p.m., we received reports of an adult male who was swimming and went under near the 5000 block of Lake Washington Blvd. S. Divers, rescue swimmers and response boats conducted a search about 400 feet from shore. Unfortunately the person was not found by our crews and the scene was turned over to the Seattle Police Department.

The second incident happened at 8:40 p.m. when we received reports of an adult female in her 20’s that went missing in the water near Seward Park. Our crews coordinated with Seattle Police to deploy divers, rescue swimmers and response boats to search the water. Crews searched for over an hour, but we were unable to locate her. Both incidents were turned over to the Seattle Police Department and their latest update was posted here.

Yesterday was an unfortunate reminder that drownings can happen when you least expect it. We encourage you to practice boating safety and to be aware whenever you are near or in water.

Here are a few boating safety tips:

  • Wear a life jacket — Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket when boating, tubing, rafting, swimming or other activities in or on lakes, rivers, salt water, or pools without a lifeguard. Life jacket information for children and teens.
  • Know the risks — Washington waters are often cold enough to cause muscles to not work, even on the hottest summer day. Cold water can weaken even the strongest swimmer. 
  • Supervise children in or near water — Always provide close and constant attention to children you are supervising in or near water. Stay within touching distance of young children at all times.
  • Learn to swim, including water safety and survival skills — To enjoy the water safely, learn swim strokes, water safety, survival skills, and becoming comfortable in the water.
  • Do not use alcohol or drugs during water activities — Never use alcohol or other impairing drugs during water and boating activities or while supervising children around the water. Alcohol affects balance, coordination, and judgement. Exposure to sun and heat worsen these effects.
  • Learn first aid and CPR — Learn first aid and CPR. Seconds count—the more quickly lifesaving CPR is started, the better the chances of recovery. Dial 911 in an emergency.

It is important for boaters to be familiar with the Regulations of Recreational Vessel operation. More information is available online at www.parks.wa.gov/boating. Boater education can increase safety on the waterways.