Heaters are the second leading cause of fires in residential buildings. As would be expected, most heating-related fires occur during the colder months when heaters get turned on and the use of portable heaters and fireplaces increase. Fires caused by furniture, bedding, and other materials placed too close to baseboard… [ Keep reading ]
October is Fire Prevention Month in Seattle and to kick off the month, we would like to highlight the importance of developing and practicing a home fire escape plan. Did you know that from the time a smoke alarm sounds, a person may have under two minutes to get out… [ Keep reading ]
Do you know what to do when the fire alarm in your apartment building sounds? For people who live in apartments or condominiums, the sound of the building fire alarm can be jolting and frightening. You may not know if there is an actual fire in the building or if… [ Keep reading ]
Every spring and summer as the weather warms up and building rooftops amenities get more use, we see an increase in the number of rooftop building fires. Between September 2017 and September 2018, the Seattle Fire Department responded to 8 significant rooftop amenity fires. The total estimated loss for these… [ Keep reading ]
Every summer, the Seattle Fire Department responds to preventable drownings. According to Public Health – Seattle & King County, 16 people died in preventable drownings in 2018. Many more near drownings go unreported. If you plan to be in or near water this summer, follow these recommendations: Know the risks… [ Keep reading ]
You could save a life – take a few minutes to learn Hands-only CPR Are you prepared to help in a medical emergency if someone goes into cardiac arrest? A cardiac patient’s chance of becoming a long-term survivor are more than doubled if a bystander on the scene administers prompt… [ Keep reading ]
May is one of the peak months for outdoor grilling fires. As the weather warms up and people begin to cook outdoors, the number of grilling-related fires increases. Before firing up your grill this holiday weekend, take these simple steps to ensure safe outdoor grilling. Setting up: Barbecue grills are… [ Keep reading ]
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… [ Keep reading ]
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… [ Keep reading ]
Did you know that it takes only two seconds of exposure to 148°F (64°C) water to cause a burn serious enough to require surgery! Coffee is often served at 175°F (79°C), making it high-risk for causing immediate severe scald burns. For National Burn Awareness Week (February 3-9, 2019), the theme is… [ Keep reading ]
