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News and events from the Seattle Fire Department

Trial by fire for Seattle’s newest firefighters

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The Seattle Fire Department will train new firefighter recruits at two vacant homes in the Roosevelt neighborhood from Oct. 28-31 at 815 and 821 NE 66th 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 12 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. NE 66th St. between 8th Ave. NE and Roosevelt Way NE will be closed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking along the curbs of both sides of NE 66th St. 100-feet east and west of the houses will be coned 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 fires spread throughout the day lasting 15-20 minutes. Residents will see smoke as controlled burns are set at 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.

You’re invited: Fall Festival at Capitol Hill Fire Station 25

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SEATTLE – Members of the Capitol Hill community are invited to attend a Fall Festival at Fire Station 25 to meet their local firefighters and police officers, participate in fun activities and learn fall fire safety tips. Activities include pumpkin carving and drawing, cornhole, fire safety activities, and a live pumpkin carving demonstration at 7:30 p.m. by the Fire Station 25 crew. If you plan to carve a pumpkin, please bring one with you. Light refreshments and apple cider will be provided. Costumes are welcome.

  • Who: Seattle Firefighters, East Precinct Police Officers and Capitol Hill community members
  • What: Fall Festival at Fire Station 25
  • Who: Fire Station 25 (1300 E. Pine St.)
  • When: Tuesday, Oct, 28, 2019 from 6-8 p.m.

Fire at UW Medical Center

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SFD incident command unit on scene for fire at UW Medical Center

Oct. 2 at 3:19 p.m. – Our Fire Alarm Center received multiple calls reporting heavy smoke originating from the lobby floor of UW Medical Center’s Cascade Tower. Engine 31 was the first company to arrive on scene and determined the fire was confined to a medical supply room. When the fire alarms activated, occupants of the lobby floor safely evacuated with the assistance of UWPD and Public Safety. The building’s sprinkler system was able to contain the fire while our crews extinguished it by 3:36 p.m.

Fire damage was minimal, but water damage from the sprinkler system was significant. Our fire investigation unit determined the fire to be accidental and caused by faulty lithium batteries that ignited in a storage bin. Estimated cost of the damages are yet to be determined. Fortunately, no injuries were reported and no patients were significantly impacted. Our crews were able to ventilate the facility to prevent interruptions to ongoing medical operations.

Time to test your smoke alarm

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As the days get shorter and with cold weather on the horizon, now is a good time to test your smoke alarm and replace their batteries. If it is more than 10 years old, it might be time to replace them with new ones.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in properties without working smoke alarms. A working smoke alarm significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire.

The Seattle Fire Department recommends that you install at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home and in each bedroom.

Do you need smoke alarms in your home? You may qualify for free combination smoke/CO alarms from the Seattle Fire Department if you meet the following criteria:

  • You live in the City of Seattle
  • You own and live in your home
  • You are living on a low income, are a senior citizen or have a disability.

Seattle residents who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing may qualify for a free strobe smoke alarm. If you fit these criteria and wish to request the installation of smoke alarms in your home, call the Seattle Fire Department at (206) 386-1337 or send us an email to learn more about this program.

September 2019 Promotion Ceremony

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SEATTLE – On Sept. 23, 2019, the Seattle Fire Department held a promotional ceremony at our headquarters to appoint four firefighters to new positions. The event was emceed by Fire Chief Scoggins. The following employees were promoted:


James Collins to Captain

Craig Patterson to Lieutenant

Matthew Lujan to Lieutenant

Matthew Turri to Lieutenant

Welcoming Sarah Smith

Sarah Smith joins us as an Admin Spec III to help us in our operations. She has a degree in Political Science and came from the Seattle YMCA where she served as a Senior Program Director. Welcome aboard!

Dump truck collision on 1st Ave. and Yesler Way

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Photo by John Odegard

At 9:42 a.m., our we received multiple 911 calls reporting a dump truck experiencing a catastrophic mechanical failure while traveling westbound, downhill on James St. The truck struck a pedestrian on 2nd Ave., then collided with three vehicles before crashing into a Subway restaurant located on the intersection of 1st Ave., Yesler Way and James St.

We have identified a total of five patients who were treated on the scene:

  1. Pedestrian hit at 2nd and James St was an approx. 33 year old male transported to Harborview Medical Center in stable condition.
  2. 25 year old female driver of a white commercial van that was struck near 1st and James St. She was transported to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition.
  3. 51 year old male pedestrian reportedly standing on the sidewalk in front of the Subway restaurant. He was transported to Harborview Medical Center in stable condition.
  4. 44 year old male male reportedly inside the Subway restaurant during the collision. He was transported to Harborview Medical Center in stable condition.
  5. 37 year old female driver of the dump truck was an adult female who suffered minor injuries and did not require transportation to a hospital.
Photo by John Odegard

By 10:10 a.m., our Rescue One company and additional firefighters safely extricated the patient in the white commercial van as well as the driver of the dump truck. Ten minutes later, our incident commander ordered a building evacuation while Seattle City Light cut electricity and Puget Sound Energy secured natural gas lines. This was a precautionary measure as the collision may have caused structural damage. Once everyone was evacuated, crews began extricating the dump truck. Primary and secondary searches confirmed no additional occupants were found inside the building. At 11:30 a.m., the scene was transferred to the Seattle Police Department.

August 2019 Promotional Ceremony

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Group photo of promoted firefighters.

SEATTLE – On Aug. 8, 2019, the Seattle Fire Department held a promotional ceremony at our headquarters to appoint three firefighters to new positions. The event was emceed by Fire Chief Scoggins. The following employees were promoted:



Lon Warr to Engineer

Ryan Skedd to Lieutenant

Matthew Anderson to Lieutenant

Chris Santos Celebrating 25 Years

Chris Santos and Fire Chief Scoggins

Recognizing Chris Santos, Director of Finance, for serving the department for over 25 years. He currently oversees the performance of various financial functions such as budgeting, accounting, payroll and contracting.



Sabrina Simpson’s Promotion

Sabrina Simpson and Fire Chief Scoggins

Sabrina has worked with the department’s Medic One staff for more than two years and was recently promoted to Admin Staff Assistant. Congrats!






Welcoming Leonard Cheever

Leanard Cheever joins us as our Fleet Services Manager to oversee the maintenance and operations of our fire engines, ladder trucks, ambulances and other support units. Welcome aboard!

2-Alarm Fire in Mt. Baker Neighborhood

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2-alarm fire in Mt. Baker neighborhood of Seattle, WA.

Our Fire Alarm Center received a 9-1-1 call at 9:47 p.m. reporting a house on fire at the 3200 block of 37th Place S.. The first engine company arrived at 9:50 p.m. and confirmed a working external fire on the rear deck of a two-story single-family house that quickly extended into the first floor. They also confirmed the sole resident of the home was safely evacuated.

At 09:52 p.m., the incident was escalated to a 2-alarm response because the fire extended to the north and south sides of the house. Exposing the two neighboring homes. A total of eight engine and four ladder companies were dispatched along with supporting units. As all crews arrived on scene, the Deputy One Chief assumed command and divided the crews into two divisions: North Branch to work on the fire that extended to the neighboring home; and South Branch to work on the fire at the house of origin.

2-alarm fire in Mt. Baker neighborhood of Seattle, WA.

At 10:10 p.m., South Branch reported the deck (where the fire started) collapsed, exposing the entire rear side of the house to the fire. Crews were able to complete a primary search of the house to confirm no occupants were inside. By 10:13 p.m., Seattle Public Utilities secured the natural gas lines to both homes. At 10:17 p.m., crews had the fire knocked down and gained control of the fire at the house of origin by 10:32 p.m.

The North Branch confirmed the fire extended to the rear deck of the neighboring home and crept into the attic. Crews had the fire under control by 10:21 p.m. and were able to conduct a primary search to confirm no occupants were inside.

2-alarm fire in Mt. Baker neighborhood of Seattle, WA.

From 10:33 p.m. and onward, all crews knocked down the fires then began checking for additional exposures and hot spots throughout both homes. Secondary searches were completed shortly thereafter and confirmed no occupants were inside and no injuries reported. Fire Investigators were unable to determine the cause of the fire because of the structural collapse of the deck. Estimated total loss is $650,000.

Crews respond to 2-Alarm Fire in Fremont

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At 1:11 a.m., our Fire Alarm Center received a 9-1-1 call reporting flames visible from a warehouse building on the 600 block of NW 40th St. Crews arrived on scene within five minutes of being dispatched and confirmed flames as well as heavy smoke coming from a large metal building approximately 120 feet by 80 feet. By 1:20 a.m., firefighters finished an inspection of the warehouse’s perimeter and determined the fire to be fully involved. As a result, the incident escalated to a 2-alarm response where a total of 11 engines, 5 ladders and 1 fireboat were dispatched in addition to supporting units. Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utility were also notified to shut off electricity and natural gas lines to the building.

According to warehouse employees, the building served as a shipping and receiving area that stored glass products and multiple 12-foot-tall crates of cardboard. The large amount of combustibles along with temperature readings exceeded 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit inside the structure, forced crews to fight the fire defensively. A smoke inhalation warning was announced for residents and workers within half a mile of the warehouse; encouraging people to close their windows and doors.

Crews had the fire under control by 3:23 a.m., two hours after the first engine companies arrived on scene. Firefighters continued to pour water into the warehouse from a defensive position as temperature readings were still high and the building’s degrading structural integrity posed a risk for crews to enter. The fire was extinguished by 12:39 p.m. while crews continued to monitor for hot spots well into the evening.

Fire Investigators determined the cause of the fire to be accidental and resulted from overheated electrical wiring. Total estimated loss is $2.6 million.

Leave fireworks to the professionals on 4th of July

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Sunshine, warm weather and the long days of summer make Independence Day the perfect time to hang out with friends and family. While fireworks are an amazing spectacle to enjoy, we recommend observing from a safe distance and leaving it to the professionals.

Last year, there were 209 fireworks related injuries in Washington State. The most common were caused by holding fireworks once lit—with adults present. Think sparklers are harmless? Think again. Sparklers burn at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to melt aluminum and cause third degree burns!

In addition, 92 fires were reported due to fireworks use; resulting in a loss of more than $160,000. Please be safe and legal this 4th of July by not using consumer fireworks!

Call 9-1-1 if you witness a fire caused by fireworks or suffer a serious injury. To report the illegal use of fireworks, please call the Seattle Police Department’s non-emergency number: (206) 625-5011.