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News and events from the Seattle Fire Department

What to do when the power goes out.

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In the Pacific Northwest, winter storms are unpredictable and can lead to power outages. Staying warm and cooking food during a power outage shouldn’t put you at risk. Burning gas, wood or charcoal inside your home will increase your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. It is an invisible, odorless gas that can cause severe illness or death. Here are a few safety tips to help prepare for when the power goes out:

Prepare

  • Make sure carbon monoxide alarms are installed on every level of your home and outside every sleeping area. Test your CO alarms along with your smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.
  • Keep an emergency kit ready that includes:
    • first-aid kit
    • flashlight with extra batteries
    • glow-in-the-dark stick lights
    • portable radio
    • manual can opener
    • portable charger for your phone
    • prescription medications
  • Stock up on:
    • non-perishable foods
    • drinking water (one gallon per person per day)
    • warm clothing and blankets
  • Know how to manually override your electric garage door or gateway.
  • If you live in a secured building, know which exit doors to use during an outage.

During the power outage

  • Never touch or approach a downed wire or anything in direct contact with it.
  • Immediately report the outage to your electricity provider (Seattle City Light’s phone number for reporting is (206) 684-3000).
  • Do not burn charcoal or use gasoline generators indoors, including the garage.
  • Never use gas ovens to heat your home, even for a short time.
  • Do not use candles as a light source nor any open flame as a heat source.
  • Before using a fireplace or wood stove, make sure that chimneys and flues are in good condition and are not blocked.
  • Move flammable materials at least three feet away from a fireplace or wood stove.
  • Switch electrical appliances off after the power goes out to prevent fires and equipment damage.

If the CO alarm sounds, turn off any heating appliance and open windows to get fresh air. Call 911 if you experience CO poisoning symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, or headaches and move to fresh air immediately. If you suspect an appliance is the source, call a qualified technician to fix the problem before restarting the appliance.

Being safe with outdoor heaters and fire pits

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outdoor heater

As the pandemic continues into winter, more people are finding ways to socialize safely outside and seeking ways to stay warm while doing so. Outdoor fire pits, outdoor gas and electric portable heaters are being used in greater numbers. In addition to taking Covid-19 precautions, consider the potential risks associated with outdoor heating sources.

Outdoor Propane and Electric heaters

 How to be safe:

  • Make sure to read and follow the manufacturer instructions prior to using an outdoor heater
  • Place heaters in a location where they cannot be easily overturned
  • Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from the heater
  • Turn off portable heaters when the area in which they are used is not occupied
  • Electric heaters should be used only where they can be plugged directly into the appropriate receptacles or extension cords of adequate current capacity
  • Propane gas heaters need proper ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide build up
fire pit

Fire Pits

Before deciding to light an outdoor fire in a fire pit, follow these safety tips to reduce the chance of an unintentional fire or injury.

  • Ensure the outdoor fire is not more than three feet in diameter and two feet in height.
  • Keep fire pits at least 5 feet from your home, vegetation or anything that can burn.
  • Portable fire pits should be set up on a non-combustible surface such as patio blocks or concrete. Do not set them up on a wood deck or on grass.
  • Keep a three-foot child and pet safety zone around your fire pit.
  • Burn only clean, dry wood.
  • Have fire extinguishing equipment readily available for use. This should include a shovel and two buckets of water, or a charged garden hose or fire extinguisher with a 4-A rating.
  • Ensure the fire is continually attended by an adult until it is completely extinguished.
  • Do not conduct fires on public property where fires are prohibited, such as in a park or on school grounds.

Outdoor Heating Safety for Businesses from the NFPA

Thanksgiving is a little different this year but safety remains on the table

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While Thanksgiving gatherings will be smaller this year, being safe in the kitchen will be just as important. Thanksgiving is the leading day for home cooking-related fires in the U.S.

How to be safe in the kitchen

  • Check on food regularly while cooking – unattended cooking is the number one cause of home fires.
  • Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from the stove.
  • Remove flammables such as towels, oven mitts and food packaging away from the stove top.
  • If a fire starts on the stove top, cover it with a lid or metal cookie sheet and turn the stove off. Do not throw water on a grease fire.
  • If you experience a fire beyond the pan that has spread, get outside of the home or apartment and call 9-1-1 immediately.
Keep the stove top clean and clear of anything that can burn

A word about turkey frying

If you are considering frying a turkey, be very careful. Large quantities of hot cooking oil can pose a significant fire and serious burn risk. The US Fire Administration has some recommendations if you decide to fry a turkey this year.

Thanksgiving safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Do you know how to respond to someone choking?

If someone appears to have food lodged in their throat and is coughing, encourage them to continue coughing. Do not try to help by slapping their back.  If they are coughing, that means that air is getting through.

However, if the person shows signs of choking such as not being able to breathe, cough, or speak, is making high pitched sounds when breathing or they are doing the universal sign of holding the throat with one or both hands, choking rescue abdominal thrusts will be necessary.

If displaying any of the above signs, ask person if they can speak. If they can speak, allow them to continue coughing, unassisted

If they are unable to speak or breathe, proceed with abdominal thrusts to help them.            

  • Position your leg between person’s legs, to better catch them if they become unconscious and fall.
  • Make a fist with one hand
  • Put the thumb side a little above the bellybutton
  • Take free hand and grasp fist and push hard and quick upward into abdomen area
  • Continue thrusts until object is expelled, or when person is able to breathe, cough, or talk. If person becomes unconscious, call 9-1-1 and begin CPR
  • Always follow up with a medical professional

Electrical fire safety: keep an eye on extension cords and wall outlets

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Overloaded electrical outlet

Did you know that over half of all home electrical fires involve lighting equipment or home electrical wiring? Overloaded outlets and the misuse of extension cords are common electrical issues that can cause a home fire. Fortunately, there are some basic steps to take to prevent such fires.

Safety tips:

  • Use as few cord adapters and extension cords as possible. Instead use a power strip that has a surge protector.
  • Extension cords should only used for temporary use. They should not be tacked to walls or run under rugs.
  • Small appliances, like the toaster should be unplugged when not in use.
  • Check your electrical cords. If they are cracked or damaged, replace them. Don’t try to repair them.
  • Don’t overload extension cords or wall outlets.
  • Never use extension cords with appliances. Plug them directly into wall outlets.

Call a qualified electrician or the landlord if you experience any of the following:

  • Frequent problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers
  • A tingling feeling when you touch an electrical appliance
  • Discolored or warm wall outlets
  • A burning or rubbery smell coming from an appliance
  • Flickering or dimming lights
  • Sparks from an outlet
Check your electrical cords. If they are cracked or damaged, replace them. Don’t try to repair them.

Fire Prevention Month: Heating Fire Safety

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give heaters space to prevent a fire

This week for Fire Prevention Month we are highlighting the fire risks related to heating which is the second main cause of home fires in the U.S.

Consider taking these precautions to prevent heating-related fires in your home.

  • Give your heaters space. Do not put anything close to any type of heater.
  • Never use an extension cord with a portable heater. Plug the heater directly into a wall outlet.
  • Make sure your portable heater is tested by an independent testing laboratory and has an automatic shut off feature if it tips over.
  • Turn portable heaters off before leaving the room or before going to bed.
  • Never permit any item to drape across heaters.
  • Clean or replace furnace filters regularly.
  • Inspect all heating equipment yearly and always hire an experienced electrician to do any necessary repair work on your baseboard heaters.
Never use an extension cord with a space heater. Always plug the space heater directly into an outlet.

Learn more:

Heating Fire Safety Handout

NFPA Heating Safety Tip Sheet

Fire Prevention Month: Calling 9-1-1 for Emergencies

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  • call 911 and know your address
Call 9-1-1 for an emergency. Know your location. A clear address on your home makes it easier for firefighters to locate you.

October is Fire Prevention Month in Seattle and this week the Seattle Fire Department is highlighting calling 9-1-1 for emergencies. 9-1-1 is a critical part of our emergency response system.

When someone calls 9-1-1 for a medical or fire emergency in Seattle, the call is dispatched to the Fire Alarm Center where firefighters are ready to get some critical information from the caller so that they can send help right away.

Below is some basic information on calling 9-1-1 in several languages.

English

CALL 9-1-1 or send someone else to call 9-1-1 for fire, medical or police emergencies.

  1. If there is a fire, call 9-1-1 after you are outside and away from the fire and smoke.
  2. Know your address or location
  • Say your language, if it is not English and stay on the phone. Do not hang up.

Spanish

LLAME AL 9-1-1 o pídale a alguien que llame al 9-1-1 en caso de incendio, emergencias médicas o policiales.

  1. Si hay un incendio, llame al 9-1-1 luego de haber salido y estar lejos del fuego y el humo.
  2. Tiene que saber dónde se encuentra.
  • Diga qué idioma habla si no es inglés y quédese al teléfono. No cuelgue.

Chinese

如遇火災、醫療或治安緊急事件，請致電 9-1-1 或派其他人致電 9-1-1。

  1. 如果發生火災，請在您逃離現場，遠離火災和煙霧後，致電 9-1-1。
  2. 瞭解您的地址或位置
  • 說出您的語言，如果不是英語，請保持通話。不要掛線。

Vietnamese

GỌI 9-1-1 hoặc nhờ ai đó gọi 9-1-1 trong trường hợp hỏa hoạn, cấp cứu y tế hoặc trường hợp khẩn cấp cần cảnh sát.

  1. Nếu xảy ra hỏa hoạn, hãy gọi 9-1-1 sau khi quý vị đã ở bên ngoài và tránh xa đám cháy và khói.
  2. Biết địa chỉ hoặc vị trí của quý vị
  • Nói ngôn ngữ của quý vị, nếu không phải là Tiếng Anh và giữ máy. Không tắt máy.

Korean

화재, 의료진 또는 경찰의 도움이 필요한 비상사태의 경우에는 9-1-1로 직접 신고하거나 주변 사람에게 9-1-1로 신고해 달라고 부탁하세요.

  1. 화재가 발생한 경우에는 화재 및 연기를 피해 건물 밖으로 나와 9-1-1로 신고하세요.
  2. 주소나 현재 위치를 알고 있어야 합니다.
  • 영어를 못하더라도 전화를 끊지 말고 자신의 언어로 말하세요. 전화를 절대 끊지 마세요.

Cambodian/Khmer

ទូរសព្ទទៅលេខ 9-1-1 ឬឱ្យនរណាម្នាក់ទូរសព្ទទៅលេខ 9-1-1 សម្រាប់​គ្រាមានអាសន្ន​ពាក់ព័ន្ធ​អគ្គិភ័យ វេជ្ជសាស្ត្រ ឬត្រូវការប៉ូលីស។

  1. ប្រសិនបើមានអគ្គិភ័យ សូមទូរសព្ទទៅលេខ 9-1-1 បន្ទាប់ពីអ្នក​ចេញ​មក​ក្រៅ និងនៅឆ្ងាយពីភ្លើងនិងផ្សែង។
  2. ស្គាល់​អាសយដ្ឋាន ឬទីតាំងរបស់អ្នក
  • និយាយភាសារបស់អ្នក ប្រសិនបើមិនមែនជាភាសាអង់គ្លេស ហើយនៅបន្ត​ស្ដាប់ទូរសព្ទ កុំដាក់ទូរសព្ទចុះ។

Amharic

ለእሳት፣ ለህክምና፣ ወይም ለፖሊስ ድንገተኛ ጥሪዎች ወደ 9-1-1 ይደውሉ ወይም ሌላ ሰው ወደ 9-1-1 እንዲደውል ይላኩ።

  1. እሳት ካለ፣ ወደ ውጪ ከወጡ እና ከእሳቱ እና ከጭሱ ከራቁ በኋላ ወደ 9-1-1 ይደውሉ።
  2. አድራሻዎን ወይም ያሉበትን ስፍራ ይወቁ
  • እንግሊዝኛ ካልሆነ፣ ቋንቋዎ ምን እንደሆነ ይናገሩና በመስመር ላይ ይቆዩ። ስልኩን አይዝጉት።

Tigrinya

ባርዕ፣ ናይ ጥዕና ወይ ናይ ፖሊስ ሃንደበታዊ ሓደጋታት እንተበጺሖም ናብ 9-1-1 ደውሉ ወይ ካልእ ሰብ ናብ 9-1-1 ክድውል ስደዱ።

  1. ሓዊ ቃጸሎ እንተልዩ፣ ካብቲ ሓዊን ትኪን ርሒቕኩም ናብ 9-1-1 ደውሉ።
  2. ኣድራሻኹም ወይ ቦታኹም ፍለጡ
  • ቋንቋኹም ነጊርኩም፡ እንግሊዝ እንተዘይኮይኑ ኣብቲ ተሌፎን ጽንሑ። ነቲ ተሌፎን ኣይትዕጸውዎ።

Oromo

9-1-1 tti BILBILAA yookin balaa abiddaaf, waldhaansa yaaalaf yookin poolisa hatattamaaf 9-1-1 tti akka bilbilaniif nama ergaa.

  1. Balaan abiddaa yoo mudate, bakka balaa ibiddaa yookin aara isaa irraa gara alaatti erga baatanii booda 9-1-1 tti bilbilaa.
  2. Teesso fi iddoo argama keessanii beekuu qabdu
  • Yoo Ingiliffaa hin taane, afaan keessan itti himaa. Bilbila hin cufinaa.

Somali

WAC 9-1-1 ama qof udir inuu waco 9-1-1 marka uu dab kaco, ay jiraan xaalado degdeg ah oo dhanka caafimaadka ama booliiska.

  1. Haddii dab kaco, wac 9-1-1 markaad banaanka u baxdo kana fogaato dabka iyo qiiqa.
  2. Baro ciwaankaaga iyo meesha aad joogto
  • Sheeg luuqada aad kuhadasho, hadaysan Ingiriis ahayn hana ka bixin khadka taleefanka. Ha jarin wicitaanka.

Arabic

اتصل بالرقم 1-1-9 أو أرسل شخصًا آخر للاتصال بالرقم 1-1-9 في حالات الحرائق، أو الطوارئ الطبية أو طوارئ الشرطة.

  1. إذا اندلع حريق، فاتصل بالرقم 1-1-9 بعد خروجك وابتعادك عن الحريق والدخان.
  2. اعرف عنوانك ومكانك
  • اذكر لغتك، إذا لم تكن الإنجليزية وابقَ على الخط. لا تغلق الهاتف.

Russian

ПОЗВОНИТЕ сами или отправьте кого-нибудь позвонить 9-1-1 в случае пожара, угрожающих жизни ситуаций со здоровьем или при необходимости вмешательства полиции.

  1. В случае пожара звоните 9-1-1 после того, как вы выбрались наружу и находитесь на безопасном расстоянии от огня и дыма.
  2. Узнайте свой адрес или местонахождение.
  • Назовите свой язык, если это не английский, и оставайтесь на связи. Не прекращайте звонок.

Ukrainian

ЗАТЕЛЕФОНУЙТЕ самі або попросіть кого-небудь зателефонувати 9-1-1 у разі пожежі, загрози здоров’ю або у випадку необхідності втручання поліції.

  1. У разі пожежі телефонуйте 9-1-1 після того, як ви вибралися назовні та перебуваєте на безпечній відстані від вогню та диму.
  2. Дізнайтеся свою адресу або де ви перебуваєте.
  • Якщо ви не володієте англійською мовою, повідомте, якою мовою ви володієте, та залишайтеся на лінії. Не кладіть слухавку.

World Restart a Heart Day 2020

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The 16th of October is World Restart a Heart Day

October 16 is World Restart a Heart Day. A day to build awareness about the importance of learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Even though the Seattle Fire Department is not offering in-person CPR classes during this stage of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to review the simple and effective steps to perform hands-only CPR. Most out of hospital cardiac arrests happen at home. Bystander CPR can make a big difference.

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. (list of songs with beats at this rate)
  5. Don’t stop compressions until help arrives or take turns with someone if you get tired

Hands-only CPR Resources:

CPR/AED Video in English

Hands-only CPR handout in 15 languages

Hands-only CPR video from the American Heart Association in English (in Spanish)

For a fun CPR video/dance party check out this video

Learn about and download the PulsePoint app and how it alerts community members when CPR is needed in real-time

Need a song that is between 100-120 beats per minute? Check out this playlist.

Falling is not a normal part of aging – Fall Prevention Week Sept. 21-25, 2020

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September 21-25, 2020 is National Fall Prevention Week. Falling is NOT a normal part of aging. Join the Seattle Fire Department in getting this important fall prevention information out to our communities.

Did you know?

  • Each year, 28% of Washington residents over age 65 experience a fall
  • In Washington State, fall-related injuries account for more than half of all injury-related deaths of adults aged 65+ and 70% of all injury-related deaths for adults aged 85+

Two thirds of seniors who experience a fall will fall again within six months.

1 in 3 people aged 65 years and older fall at least once every year. 1 in 40 of those will be hospitalized and only half of those hospitalized will survive the year.

60% of fatal falls occur in the home.

More information:

Seattle/King County Public Health Fall Prevention Resources

Washington State Department of Health – Older Adult Falls

National Council on Aging – Fall Prevention Week

Information in Spanish:

Start your Falls Free CheckUp

National Preparedness Month — Week 3: Prepare for Disasters

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Prepare for earthquakes and other hazards (2001 Seattle)

Earthquakes are this region’s disaster with the biggest impacts – loss of communications, damaged infrastructure, interruptions in the supply chain, etc. Know how your specific job may be affected, what workplace policies go into effect and what you’ll be expected to do.

Take These Actions:

  1. Find out what hazards are near your home and your neighborhood.
  2. Create a Smart 911 account and sign up for Alert Seattle.
    • NEW for 2020: Text “Seattle” to 67283 to be added to Alert Seattle emergency notifications.

For More:

Urban brush fire prevention

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Brush, bark and dry grass fires keep firefighters busy during the summer months. Unfortunately, the Seattle Fire Department has responded to over 12 brush and bark-related fires within the past two days. In more rural parts of King County, the high number of brush fires has led the King County Fire Marshal to issue a burn ban on all outdoor recreational fires effective immediately.

The Seattle Fire Department strongly encourages community members to avoid outdoor burning and to take extra precautions with smoking materials during this time.

How to prevent dry weather-related fires:

  • Do not light fireworks.
  • Dispose of smoking materials in proper receptacles and douse in water, not in planters, beauty bark or out of your vehicle window. Make sure proper cigarette disposal canisters are available in areas where smoking is allowed. 
  • Be sure chains and other metal parts are not dragging from your vehicle as they can throw sparks. Check your tire pressure – driving on an exposed wheel rim can cause sparks.
  • Be careful driving through or parking on dry grass as hot exhaust pipes can lead to fires.
  • Be aware that sparks from lawn mowers can start fires – avoid mowing when it is dry or windy.
  • Remove long grass, weeds or anything that can burn from around homes. This includes limbs that touch buildings or hang near the roof.
  • Remove dead plants or bushes as soon as possible and clear roof and gutters of pine needles and leaves.
  • Move trash, recycling, and yard waste bins away from the home.
  • Avoid down power lines.

Be aware of health hazards associated with wild fires and poor air quality by visiting Public Health – Seattle & King County’s website and Puget Sound Clean Air Agency’s website.