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News and events from the Seattle Fire Department

New Smoke Alarms Installed in 33 Haller Lake Homes

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Canvas2

The Seattle Fire Department Public Education Unit organized a smoke alarm canvas event at a mobile home park near Haller Lake earlier this month. Firefighters from Fire Station 24 and Spanish speaking volunteers from the Red Cross went door-to-door installing smoke alarms and handing out fire safety information. Thirty-three homes received new smoke alarms.

Seattle homeowners can contact the Seattle Fire Department Public Education Office at 206.386.1337 to see if they qualify for a free smoke alarm installation. To learn more about smoke alarms visit: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/smokealarms/smokeAlarms.htm.

Seattle Fire Department to Canvas Mobile Home Park in Haller Lake with Smoke Alarms

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In an effort to increase the number of homes with working smoke alarms, on Saturday, September 12 Seattle firefighters will go door-to-door installing smoke alarms and replacing smoke alarm batteries in a mobile home park in the Haller Lake neighborhood. The canvas will begin at North 125th Street and Stone Ave. N.

Nationally, over 20% of homes do not have working smoke alarms and most deaths caused by fire happen in homes without working smoke alarms. A working smoke alarm can cut the risk of death by half in a residential fire.

Seattle homeowners who do not receive a visit from the Seattle Fire Department on September 12 can contact the Seattle Fire Department Public Education Office at 206.386.1337 to see if they qualify for a free smoke alarm installation. To learn more about smoke alarms visit: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/smokealarms/smokeAlarms.htm.

Firefighters rescue man trapped in 15-foot deep trench

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Seattle Firefighters worked for forty-five minutes to rescue a construction worker  trapped in a trench after the wall he was working on in the front yard of a Magnolia home collapsed and buried him waist deep. Firefighters from the Department’s Technical Rescue team used shoring materials, ladders, and wood to stabilize the 15- foot deep trench. Seattle Public Utilities supplied a vactor truck and worked closely with firefighters to vacuum the dirt and sand out from around the patient until he was free. The man communicated with firefighters throughout the rescue and was transported to Harborview Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

Firefighters communicated with the patient throughout the rescue.

Firefighters communicated with the patient throughout the rescue.

Seattle Public Utilities supplied a vactor truck which was used to vacuum dirt out from around the patient.

Seattle Public Utilities used a vactor truck to vacuum dirt out from around the patient.

 

A look at the trench after the patient was rescued. The wall on the left side of the photo collapsed and buried the patient waist deep.

A look at the trench after the patient was rescued. The wall on the left side of the photo collapsed and buried the patient waist deep.

Ground Breaking at Fire Station 35

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Seattle Fire Chief Gregory Dean and firefighters who work on Engine 35 at Friday's ground breaking celebration.

Seattle Fire Chief Gregory Dean and firefighters who work on Engine 35 at Friday's ground breaking celebration.

Fire Chief Gregory Dean and Fleets and Facilities Director Brenda Bauer, along with firefighters who work on Engine 35 celebrated the beginning of construction for Fire Station 35 in the Crown Hill neighborhood. The 89-year-old facility is one of the oldest operating fire stations in Seattle.

The new, larger fire station is designed to withstand an earthquake so that firefighters can respond when the community needs them most. The new station will also provide the space required for modern equipment and operations, including decontamination space so firefighters can remove toxic materials from their gear when they return from fire and medical calls. The new station will expand from one story to two and will have an additional 2,000 square feet of space. Construction is expected to take approximately 18 months. During construction Engine 35 will respond to emergencies out of a temporary station located at 9089 Holman Road N.W.

Arson Investigation

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Seattle Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit has determined that a series of fires in the Greenwood Neighborhood were intentionally set. The Seattle Police Department is handling the criminal investigations. At least four fires have been set in the area in the past two months. Three of those fires occurred in the last week. There are no suspects at this time and investigators have not determined that these fires are connected; however, the Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Police Department want to inform residents and give them arson prevention tips. Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the Arson Alarm Hotline number at 1-800-55-ARSON.

Later today, firefighters will distribute Arson Watch Flyers with tips on steps individuals can take to make a difference in protecting their home or business.

August 13 – 100 Block of NW 84th Street

Set fire spread to a home at approximately 4:31 p.m. A 50-year old male suffered burns and was transported to Harborview Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. Damage to the home totaled $170,000.

August 13 – 1100 Block of N 98th Street
Set fire in a first floor office of a mixed use commercial/residential building at 3:21 a.m. Two occupants of an apartment above the office were able to exit the building safely. Firefighters arrived to find a small fire in the office area on the first floor. Damage to the business totaled $15,000.

August 12 – 7700 Block of Greenwood Ave North
Fire set on the exterior of a three story residence at 1:33 p.m. There were no people inside the house and the fire was concentrated on the exterior of the building. Damage was estimated at $100.

June 19 – 8700 Block of Greenwood Avenue North
Fire set in the basement of a vacant and closed restaurant around 10:00 p.m. There were no people inside the building and no injuries as a result of this fire. Damage was estimated at $500.

No Injuries in Early Morning Fire in Vacant House

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8-12 House Fire

On Wednesday, August 12 just after 1 a.m. firefighters responded to a house fire at the intersection of NW 85 Street and 6 Avenue NW in Ballard. Flames were visible from the side of a vacant house when the first engine arrived on scene. Firefighters searched the house and confirmed that there was no one inside. There were no injuries as a result of this fire. Most of the fire damage was on the outside of the structure, though some fire spread to the interior and attic space.

Fire Investigators determined that the fire was accidental, caused by improperly discarded smoking materials that ignited dry grass and debris near the house. Damage was estimated at $70,000. This vacant home was also the site of a set fire on November 14, 2008.