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News and events from the Seattle Fire Department

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.

Apartment fire in Capitol Hill neighborhood results in 2 residents and 1 firefighter injured

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SEATTLE, Feb. 15 — At 11:33 a.m., our Fire Alarm Center received multiple reports of a fire in a 4th floor apartment unit on the 500 Block of Boylston Ave. E.. Engine 25 and Ladder 10 were the first units on scene and reported two people were sitting on window ledges from a 4th floor unit adjacent to the fire room. Crews from Ladder 10 hoisted a ladder up to rescue them. Both did not report any injuries.

Engine 25 reported smoke in the 3rd floor stairwell as they made their way up to the 4th. The 4th floor hallway contained heavy smoke and crews helped evacuate an approx. 30 year-old-male from fire room along with an approx. 20 year-old-female in a nearby unit—both are in stable condition and were transported to a hospital for further medical care. Firefighters then entered the fire room to pour water on the fire while conducting a primary search of all impacted units. No additional people required evacuation while firefighters advised several residents to shelter-in-place and close their hallway doors to prevent further smoke from entering their unit.

Crews quickly extinguished the fire and confirmed no extension into other units. Then they proceeded to check with the residents that were advised to shelter in place. One resident (70 year-old-male) requested a medical evaluation and paramedics confirmed he sustained no injuries.

One firefighter sustained minor injuries. A total of 60 SFD personnel consisting of five Fire Engines, three Ladder Trucks and ten support units responded to the incident. The incident is under investigation.

Updated Feb. 15: Fire investigators determined the incident was accidental and caused by unoccupied food-on-stove. Estimated damage is $70,000.

Know the warning signs of a heart attack

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1.5 million Americans will suffer a heart attack or stroke every year, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Learn the signs of a heart attack because early detection and fast action can save lives. While some heart attacks are sudden and intense, most start slowly with mild pain or discomfort. Pay attention to your body and call 911 if you experience any of these heart attack warning signs:

  • Chest discomfort: pressure, pain or discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes. The pain may go away and then return.
  • Discomfort in other areas of the upper body: pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck or stomach.
  • Shortness of breath: can occur with or without chest discomfort.
  • Other possible signs: breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Below are more more resources on learning hands-only CPR for if you witness someone collapse or suffer a heart attack:

February is Black History Month

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February is Black History Month, and we’d like to share this video about the King County Fire Chiefs Association’s promise for equity in public safety. We are listening to our communities and stand united in support of a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce and community. In 2017 our association established a Diversity Subcommittee, which was created to recruit, hire and retain a workforce that reflects the diversity of our county. This committee is dedicated to being an active voice in addressing and breaking down barriers that disproportionately impact Black and underserved communities, and we know there is more work to be done.

Celebrate the Lunar New Year safely

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COVID-19 safety guidelines have prohibited large gatherings, but many families will be celebrating at home for this Lunar New Year (Feb. 12).

Celebrations mean cooking and sharing food. Cooking related fires remain the main cause of fires during holidays and celebrations.

When cooking:

  • Most fires start from cooking left unattended. Always use a timer when cooking and never leave the kitchen area, especially when cooking with oil.
  • If a pot or pan is on fire, cover it with a lid or flat metal pan. Do not throw water on a grease fire.

If using incense and candles:

  • Use battery powered candles instead of wax candles to be extra safe.
  • Keep incense and candles away from drapes, pillows, bedding and anything that can burn!
  • Burn incense or candles in a sturdy, heat resistant container.
  • Put incense and candles out before leaving the room or before going to bed.

Smoke/Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms:

  • Install smoke and CO alarms on every level of your home
  • Smoke alarms should never be disabled. Use a dish towel to stop the alarm from beeping if cooking smoke sets it off.
  • Test the smoke alarm by pushing the test button every 2 months. Replace battery yearly.
  • When the smoke alarm goes off, that is the signal to follow the escape plan. Get out and call 9-1-1 from a safe location.

Fireworks & Firecrackers:

  • Firecrackers are loud. Use earmuffs or earplugs, especially for children.
  • Leave all fireworks activities to the professionals. Fireworks are not allowed in Seattle except for certain ceremonial purposes with a permit from the Seattle Fire Department .

February is heart month: learn CPR and download PulsePoint

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Knowing how to perform hands-only CPR (without breaths) can save a life. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, you should know the risk of infection is low. According to the Seattle Fire Department Medical Director, Dr. Michael Sayre, “performing Hands-Only CPR is essential to help buy precious time for help to arrive. Even if the victim has a contagious disease (and few victims of sudden collapse are contagious), your risk of catching anything is quite low since you are not giving mouth-to-mouth breaths.”

Around 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home so you’re more likely to perform hands-only CPR on someone you know. A cardiac patient’s chance of becoming a long-term survivor are more than doubled if a someone on the scene administers prompt CPR.

Administering hands-only CPR is a simple technique that only takes a few minutes to learn. Watch this short video to learn the steps for performing hands-only CPR – you could save a life.

Download the PulsePoint App

We partnered with PulsePoint, a free mobile app used to alert Seattle residents when a person is suffering from sudden cardiac arrest in their immediate vicinity. We encourage you to learn CPR and download the PulsePoint App onto your mobile phone.

If you see someone collapse, follow these steps:

  1. Call 911 – Give specific information to the dispatcher, starting with the location. Is an AED available? If so, send someone to retrieve it and use it as soon as you can.
  2. Make sure the scene is safe
  3. Quickly determine if the person needs CPR – If the person is not responsive or not breathing normally – tap them on the shoulder and shout, “Are you ok. Are you ok?” If the person doesn’t move, speak, blink, or otherwise react, then he or she is not responding.
  4. Begin Chest Compressions – Use two hands, with straight arms, and push down hard and fast in the center of the chest. Make sure compressions are at least 2-inches deep, and are at the rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
  5. Don’t stop compressions until help arrives or take turns with someone if you get tired

More CPR/AED Resources:

Firefighters rescue teen in residential fire in Beacon Hill neighborhood

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Photo courtesy of KOMO 4 News

The incident is currently under investigation. Information on this fire has been shared with the Seattle Police Department for a follow-up investigation.

Seattle — Jan. 22 at 3:58 a.m.: Our fire alarm center received 911 calls reporting a fire in a 2-story residence at the 9300 Block of 39th Ave. S.. Engines 28 and 33 along with Ladder 12 were the first on scene and confirmed flames coming out of a window near the main entrance to the home. Four occupants were able to safely evacuate on their own and immediately informed our firefighters that a fifth occupant was still inside on the second floor.

Firefighters from Engines 28 and 33 poured water onto the fire as they gained entrance into the home to search to the remaining occupant. They found the patient on the second floor and crews from Ladder 12 removed him from the burning building to rendezvous with Medic 28. Paramedics then performed lifesaving efforts on the patient while loading him into their ambulance to transport him to Harborview Medical Center. The patient is an approx. 14 year-old-male who is in critical condition.

Firefighters had the fire under control within 20 minutes from the first units arriving on scene. Crews conducted additional searches within the home and confirmed no additional occupants were inside. We evaluated three of the four occupants that originally evacuated and none required hospitalization. No additional injuries were reported. Estimated damage is $350,000.

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.