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News and events from the Seattle Fire Department

Refresh your skills for CPR/AED Awareness Week (June 1-7, 2020)

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You could save a life – take a few minutes to learn hands-only CPR

Hands-only CPR demonstration at a community event

Even during this pandemic, with stay-at-home orders and physical distancing recommendations, it’s important to be prepared for sudden emergencies such as sudden cardiac arrest. Around 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home so it’s important to know what to do if this were to happen. 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 (without breaths) 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.

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

Help us spread awareness during this year’s National CPR/AED Awareness Week by sharing this information with at least one family member or friend.

CPR/AED 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

Extinguish and discard smoking materials safely

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We have responded to a few fires recently that were caused by smoking materials left unattended or discarded improperly. With warm and dryer weather in the forecast, more such fires will likely occur.

Steps to help reduce the chance of such fires include the following:

  • Carelessly discarded cigarettes and other smoking materials can easily start a fire in dry conditions. Extinguish smoking materials before you leave the room or area
  • Douse smoking materials in water before tossing out
  • Make sure proper cigarette disposal canisters are available in areas where smoking is allowed
Discard smoking materials in designated canisters only

Even though smoking is not allowed on rooftops, Fire Investigators frequently find cigarette butts in planter boxes and in garbage cans. It is important to never discard cigarettes in vegetation such as mulch, potted plants or landscaping, peat moss, dried grasses, leaves or other things that could ignite easily. A small cigarette butt in dry conditions can turn into a major fire.

To make sure your home is safe also consider:

  • Removing long grass, weeds or anything that can burn from around buildings. This includes limbs that touch buildings or hang near the roof
  • Removing dead plants or bushes as soon as possible
  • Clearing roof and gutters of needles and leaves

Being safe with outdoor fire pits

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With warmer weather on its way, more people will be looking to buy and use outdoor fire pits. Before you start a fire outdoors, read through the outdoor fire regulations on the Seattle Fire Department’s website. Also check to see if an air quality burn ban is in effect by visiting the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency website or by calling 1-800-595-4341. Outdoor fire pits are allowed in the City of Seattle if fire safety requirements are met and air quality conditions allow for outdoor burning.

Keep fire pits at least 10 feet away from structures and vegetation

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 10 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 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.

Keep in mind that beach fires are only allowed in designated fire pits at Golden Gardens Park in Ballard and Alki Park in West Seattle. Visit the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department website for more information on beach fire regulations and hours.

Before turning on the grill this weekend, make sure to review some grilling safety tips

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With summer-like weather coming this weekend, more people will be starting up their grills for the first time this year.  As with all cooking, it is important to stay alert and near the stove or grill to prevent a fire from starting and getting out of control. The leading issues in grill fires are mechanical failure or malfunction, combustibles placed too close to the heat, and leaving a hot grill unattended.

Before you head to your favorite park to grill, check out the Governor’s Stay at Home, Stay Healthy order and Seattle Parks and Recreation guidelines. Currently, all outdoor grills and fire pits at Seattle Parks are closed.

Enjoy grilling safely by following these tips:

Setting up:

  • Barbecue grills are designed for outdoor use only. Never barbecue in an enclosed area – dangerous carbon monoxide (CO) can accumulate and be deadly. If you suspect CO poisoning, call 911.
  • Set-up your grill in an open area at least three feet away from buildings, overhead combustible surfaces, dry leaves and brush.
  • Make sure all of the grilling parts are firmly in place and the grill is on a flat surface.
  • For propane grills, make sure the hose connection is tight and check the hoses for leaks. This is especially important when using the grill for the first time in a long time.
Keep grills at least 3 feet away from homes, trees, shrubs and wood fencing

During use:

  • Never leave grills unattended while cooking.
  • Keep a three-foot zone around the grill where children and pets aren’t allowed.
  • Do not leave starter fluid, lighters or matches within the reach of children.
  • Use the proper tools. Long handled barbecue utensils and flame retardant mitts will prevent burns from heat and flame.
  • For charcoal grills, avoid adding lighter fluid after the coals are lit.
Use proper tools and flame retardant mitts to prevent burns

Cleaning up:

  • For propane grills, turn the grill and fuel cylinder off immediately after grilling.
  • For charcoal grills, allow coals to cool for 48 hours before disposing. If you are not able to wait, douse coals with plenty of water, and stir them to ensure that the fire is out. Never place coals in plastic, paper or wooden containers; place in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid.

More grilling safety tips from the US Fire Administration

Fire hydrant testing happening in May – You might have discolored water temporarily

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Seattle firefighter testing a fire hydrant

Each year, firefighters test all fire hydrants in Seattle to make sure that they are working properly and will provide sufficient water if ever needed for a fire. Working in collaboration with Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) who maintain and repair the fire hydrants, the Seattle Fire Department sets a schedule to test the hydrants during the warmer months.

Fire hydrant testing is happening now and should continue until the end of May. Hydrant testing is typically done in the morning hours between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.

If you live near a fire hydrant that has been recently tested, your home water source may appear discolored for up to a few hours. This is normal and temporary, and the water is still safe.

If you experience discolored water, Seattle Public Utilities recommends running the cold water for a few minutes to see if it is clearing or still discolored. If the water does not clear, let the water sit for 1 to 2 hours. Then run cold water for a few minutes in your bathtub or shower. Do not run the hot water to try to clear the water. If the water remains discolored, please contact SPU’s Operations Response Center at (206) 386-1800.

Before you leave your home, make sure to check for these fire hazards

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Recent fires in West Seattle and Wallingford at home construction sites provide reminders about the importance of making sure fire hazards are removed before going away for any period of time. In both cases, the cause of the fire was undetermined. While those recent fires were at construction sites, the same guidelines apply to occupied homes.

Before you leave – tips for inside the home:

  1. Always turn off portable heaters and unplug them from the electrical outlet.
  2. Unplug all appliance that have a heating device such as toasters, rice cookers and space heaters.
  3. Make sure the stove, oven and clothes dryer are off.
  4. Make sure candles, incense, wood burning stove and fireplace are out.

Before you leave- tips for outside the home:

  1. Clear gutters of dry leaves and remove branches that are touching the home.
  2. Keep piles of combustibles such as wood chips or wood materials at least 10 feet away from the home.
  3. Consider putting fencing around construction projects that are long term in nature.
  4. Consider installing motion senor lights outside the home.
  5. Let neighbors know that your home will be vacant and to report concerns.

Home fire safety tips

Construction site fire safety tips

Smoke alarms save lives – check yours today

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A recent home fire without a working smoke alarm offers a good reminder about the importance of making sure all smoke alarms are working properly. As people are spending more time at home these days and using their stoves, heaters and fireplaces more, there is a potential for an increase in home fires.

Did you know?

  • Three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in properties without working smoke alarms
  • More than one-third (38 percent) of home fire deaths result from fires in which no smoke alarms are present.
  • The risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms. (National Fire Protection Association)
Install smoke alarms in bedrooms, hallways, and on every level of the home

Smoke alarms should be installed in every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.

Replace every 10 years

Make sure your smoke alarms are working by testing them monthly. Replace batteries yearly and replace smoke alarms every 10 years or sooner if needed.

Critical blood shortage – Donate blood if you can!

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Join the Seattle Fire Department in donating blood

Every day, the Seattle Fire Department responds to emergencies where the patient is transported to a local hospital with injuries requiring blood. Unfortunately, while the need for blood remains high, local blood donation centers are seeing a drop off in blood donations due to the coronavirus outbreak and calls to stay home.

Donating blood is not a restricted activity at this time because of its critical importance. While most blood drives have been canceled by local blood centers, people can still donate by making an appointment.

Join the Seattle Fire Department and donate blood if you can. Donating blood is safe and is considered an essential service due to the importance of blood and plasma for our area hospitals.

Where to donate:

Bloodworks Northwest

American Red Cross

If your CO alarm chirps every 30 seconds, it’s not an emergency but you should replace the CO alarm a.s.a.p.

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CO alarms
CO alarms need to be replaced every 7 years

The Seattle Fire Department has received multiple 9-1-1 calls this year from concerned residents because of chirping carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. While it’s important to call 9-1-1 if your CO alarm is sounding continuously without stopping, a CO alarm that chirps every 30 seconds is not an emergency. It probably means your CO alarm has reached its end of life and should be replaced.

CO alarm life span

CO alarms have a life expectancy of around seven years. All CO alarms produced after August 1, 2009, have an end-of-life warning notification that alerts the resident that the alarm should be replaced. The CO alarm will beep every 30 seconds or display ERR or END.

If a CO alarm is at its end-of-life, replacing the battery will not stop the beep. Some CO alarms have a feature that will silence the signal for 30 days, but this will not solve the issue as the CO alarm will continue to beep after the 30 day period ends.

What people should know

In January of 2013, Washington State law (RCW 19.27.530) required CO alarms to be installed in new residences and in existing rental properties. Owner-occupied single-family residences, legally occupied before July 26, 2009, are not required to have CO alarms until they are sold or when a building permit application for interior remodeling is submitted.

Homeowners should consider replacing all CO alarms that were installed in or before 2013. A CO alarm that signals that it’s at the end of its life should be replaced as well.

Renters should notify property managers or landlords immediately if their CO alarm is beeping every 30 seconds indicating its end-of-life. They should also know that intermittent beeping CO alarm is not reason to call 9-1-1.

A CO alarm that beeps continuously without stopping could indicate that carbon monoxide is present. If you your CO alarm is sounding continuously and you have signs of CO poisoning such as dizziness, headache, vomiting or flu like symptoms, find fresh air and call 9-1-1 immediately.

More information on carbon monoxide alarm requirements

State Building Code Council’s Carbon Monoxide Alarm page.

Seattle Fire Department’s CAM 5121 Carbon Monoxide Alarm Requirements in Residential Occupancies

Stay alert when cooking meals at home

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Be alert when cooking and don’t leave cooking unattended.

With greater numbers of people not eating out and cooking meals at home, it’s a good time to review and practice cooking safety. Unattended cooking is the main cause of home fires.

Please consider taking these precautions before and after using the stove and oven.

  • Never leave the kitchen when frying, broiling or grilling food. If you have to leave the kitchen, turn off the stove or set a timer to remind you to check on the food.
  • Keep all things that can catch fire away from the stovetop – oven mitts, towels, papers, food packaging, cooking utensils and groceries.
  • Never use the stovetop as a counter or the oven to store items including pots and pans.
  • Keep a lid or cookie sheet nearby when cooking with oil or grease in case a small fire starts.

If there is a fire:

  • If a fire occurs in a pan on the stove, slide the lid over the pan to smother the fire. Turn off the stove and leave the pan covered until it completely cools.
  • If the fire is large or has spread to other items, get out quickly. If possible, close the door behind you as you leave to keep fire from spreading to other rooms.
  • Call 9-1-1 after you’ve left the house or building.

Learn more cooking fire safety.