During times of celebration, there are common fire safety issues that all communities experience. Keep these safety considerations in mind this Chinese New Year and Vietnamese New Year (January 25). Celebrations mean cooking and sharing food. Cooking related fires remain the main cause of fires during holidays and celebrations. When… [ Keep reading ]
When temperatures drop during the winter months, the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning increases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year approximately 50,000 people visit emergency rooms in the U.S. due to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. With colder weather and snow in the forecast for… [ Keep reading ]
The Seattle Fire Department would like to wish you all a very happy New Year. Here are some safety reminders to carry into 2020. Old Christmas Trees Don’t burn your Christmas tree. Burning trees at public locations such as parks and beaches is illegal. Instead, treat your old Christmas tree… [ Keep reading ]
During the winter months, lights and candles get lit to brighten up our homes for the holidays. Unfortunately, this is also the time of year when the fire department responds to more fires involving candles and holiday lights. Be mindful of your candles and festive lights this holiday season and… [ Keep reading ]
Daylight Saving Time comes to an end this weekend. Now is a good time to make sure that your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are working by testing them and replacing batteries if needed. Don’t wait until your alarm begins to “chirp” at an inconvenient time before deciding to… [ Keep reading ]
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 ]
