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News and events from the Seattle Fire Department

Seattle Fire Code Advisory Board- Call for Labor Representative

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Because of its importance for residents and businesses, the Seattle Fire Code is updated by the Seattle Fire Department in cooperation with a volunteer advisory board that represents the interests of the public, organized labor, and local business, industry, and technical trades. We are currently seeking to fill the Labor Representative board position.

The labor representative is selected by the M.L. King County Labor Council, appointed by the Mayor of the City of Seattle, and confirmed by the Seattle City Council. Board members play a crucial role in establishing the fire code for Seattle. The Seattle Fire Code helps prevent fires and assure the safety of people who live, work and visit in Seattle.

To apply, please send your resume and a cover letter indicating why you would like to join the Board to office@mlkclc.org by March 30, 2014. We encourage people with multicultural backgrounds or experience serving diverse populations to apply.

Fire Code Advisory Board c/o Seattle Fire Department, Fire Marshal’s Office 220 Third Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98104 Attn: Karen Grove Email: karen.grove@seattle.gov

Phone: 206-386-1451 Fax: 206-386-1359

Queen Anne Fire Station Open House Saturday February 8

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Community invited to visit Seattle’s latest fire station renovation

Fire Station 8 hosts an open house Feb. 8, 2014, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

 

SEATTLE – The Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Fire Fighters Union, Local 27, invite the community to check out the completed seismic and safety upgrade of Seattle’s Fire Station 8, located at 110 Lee St. on Queen Anne Hill, during an open house on Feb. 8, 2014, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is one of 18 Seattle fire stations hosting an open house as part of Seattle’s 20th Annual Neighbor Appreciation Day celebration. 

“We want to open the doors to our new fire station which has been upgraded to better serve the neighborhood,” says Fire Chief Gregory Dean.” This is also an opportunity for the public to meet their local firefighters and learn about their life saving techniques.”

Fire Station 8 is one of 32 neighborhood fire stations being upgraded, renovated or replaced through the Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Program, which was approved by Seattle voters in 2003.

“Public safety is the foremost responsibility of city government.  The seismic retrofit will help our firefighters protect public safety and respond to natural disasters,” says Mayor Ed Murray. “I invite you all to come check out this newly upgraded, seismically sound fire station, as well as the 17 others hosting open houses on Saturday as part of Seattle’s 20th Annual Neighbor Appreciation Day celebration.”

Improvements to the building include structural upgrades to bring the station up to current seismic safety standards.  An addition was also made to the east side of the existing station that has improved and relocated the station watch office, allowing for future accommodation of a tillered aerial ladder apparatus.

Other improvements to Fire Station 8 include a new roof, window replacements and building mechanical system improvements.  In addition, Fire Station 8 now has a contamination area, bunker gear storage, additional apparatus storage, vehicle maintenance functions, major disaster and EMS storage, and a battery charging area.

The Fire Station 8 project was developed by the city of Seattle’s Department of Finance and Administrative Services, designed by SHKS Architects, and built by In Store Services Inc. of Seattle. Construction began October 2012 and was completed in October 2013.

Seattle and Denver Fire Chief’s compete for smoke alarms in friendly football wager

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Seattle – When the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos face each other on Sunday, February 2, there will be more on the line than an NFL championship. The fire chiefs in Seattle and Denver are making the big game even more interesting by placing a friendly wager,a wager that may help save lives in the communities they help serve and protect.

Seattle Fire Chief Gregory Dean and Denver Fire Chief Eric Tade agreed to a challenge proposed by Kidde, a leading manufacturer of fire safety products. The chief whose team wins Sunday’s game will receive 250 of Kidde’s Worry-Free smoke alarms, donated by Kidde. Each alarm has a sealed-in lithium battery to offer nonstop power for 10 years without battery changes or low-battery chirping noises. The chief whose team loses the game will receive 100 of the Worry-Free alarms to install in his community – while wearing the jersey of the winning team.

Both chiefs emphasize the importance of working smoke alarms. “Smoke detectors are residents’ best first defense against the dangers of smoke and fire, “said Seattle Fire Chief Gregory Dean. “ A working smoke alarm will provide residents the vital early warning signal necessary for a safe evacuation from a burning home.”

 “Just this morning, a Denver couple was woken up before 4 a.m. when a home fire activated their smoke alarms and prompted them to get out of the house and call 911,” said Denver Fire Chief Eric Tade. “We encourage all residents to replace smoke detectors every 10 years and test the batteries monthly.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), two-thirds of fire fatalities nationally occur in homes without smoke alarms or without working smoke alarms. The vast majority of non-working smoke alarms are due to missing or dead batteries. Kidde’s sealed-in 10-year battery smoke alarms offer a decade of protection without ever having to replace the battery.

Organized in 1894, the Seattle Fire Department currently serves more than half a million people with 33 neighborhood fire stations. The mission of the Seattle Fire Department is to save lives and protect property through emergency medical service, fire and rescue response and fire prevention. We respond immediately when any member of our community needs help with professional, effective and compassionate service.

Founded in 1866, the Denver Fire Department is dedicated to providing quality, timely, and professional emergency services to those who live in, work in, and visit the City and County of Denver and the communities we serve; respecting each other through trust, pride, diversity, integrity, and training; and working together to achieve the highest levels of preparedness, prevention, and community involvement with a dedication to purpose.

Thanksgiving Holiday Fire Safety

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pan fire 4-2013The Seattle Fire Department reminds residents to be mindful of fire safety during this holiday season. Holiday-related home fires primarily involve cooking, heating and electrical sources. Thanksgiving is the leading day for home cooking-related fires.

Keep these tips in mind this Thanksgiving Holiday:
• Check on food regularly while cooking – unattended cooking is the number one cause of home fires
• Keep children at least 3 feet away for the stove
• Unplug kitchen electrical items which have a heating element such as coffee pots, rice cookers and toasters, when not in use
• Extinguish candles before leaving the room and before going to bed, or better yet, use flameless candles instead.
• Give your heaters space- baseboard heaters need 1 foot clearance and portable space heaters should have 3 feet clearance
• If a fire starts on the stove, cover it with a lid or metal cookie sheet and turn the stove off. Don’t throw water on a grease fire.

Turkey fryer safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association can be found here. http://sparky.org/parentpage/pdf/Final_Fryer.pdf

For more information, contact Public Education at fireinfo@seattle.gov

Community invited to check out Seattle’s Madison Park Fire Station renovation

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SEATTLE – The Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Fire Fighters Union, Local 27, invite the community to check out the completed seismic and safety upgrade of Seattle’s Fire Station 34, located at 633 32nd Ave. E. in the Madison Park neighborhood, during an open house on Nov. 16, 2013, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The remodeled fire facility ensures our firefighters will be able to protect our firefighters and equipment so that they continue to deliver a high-level of fire protection and medical services to the community,” says Fire Chief Gregory Dean. “Here is an opportunity for the residents to not only get a first-hand look at their local fire station but also a chance to meet the firefighters who serve them on a daily basis.”

Fire Station 34 is one of 32 neighborhood fire stations being upgraded, renovated or replaced through the Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Program, which was approved by Seattle voters in 2003. Built in 1970, Fire Station 34 was in generally fair condition, but required seismic retrofits to meet the current earthquake safety standards. The $1.8 million project also included interior remodeling to enhance operations.

“Our first responders need the vital tools and facilities that allow them to protect public safety and to respond to natural disasters,” says Mayor Mike McGinn. “I invite the public to come see their investment at work with this newly upgraded and seismically sound fire station.”

Fire Station 34 houses one engine company (E34) with a crew of four firefighters and a hose wagon. The remodel included seismic upgrades to the reinforced masonry walls and the concrete and wood-framed roofs. A new two-story addition provides extra space to accommodate a fitness room, decontamination room, bunker gear storage, apparatus bay storage and a battery charging station. Existing spaces also were improved: the beanery (aka kitchen) was completely remodeled; a new day room was added by capturing underutilized exterior space; the basement was renovated to include more usable storage space and a new laundry room.

In addition to seismic improvements and expanded interior spaces, the station received numerous upgrades, including a new roof, new copper piping throughout, a new fire sprinkler system, a new fire alarm system, asbestos abatement, various mechanical upgrades, new light fixtures throughout, a new emergency generator, upgrades for ADA compliance and new landscaping.

The Fire Station 34 project was developed by the city of Seattle’s Department of Finance and Administrative Services, designed by ARC Architects of Seattle, and built by Western Ventures Construction of Mountlake Terrace, WA. Construction began in 2011 and was completed in October 2013.

Smoke alarm: Test it Today – Sleep Better Tonight

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does your smoke alarm work small 10-2013A sounding smoke alarm is a family’s first sign that there could be fire in the home. The end of Daylight Saving Time – and “Falling” back – can serve as a great reminder to families to change home smoke alarm batteries. This can also be an opportunity to teach kids the importance of home fire safety, especially the role of the smoke alarm, even when they seem like a nuisance.

Help children recognize the sound of the alarm, and when they hear the loud noise, follow their home escape plan and get out fast.

Kids can help keep their families fire safe by helping a parent remember to:
• Put smoke alarms in your home, especially in bedrooms.
• Test smoke alarms monthly so you know what it sounds like.
• Replace old batteries with new ones yearly.
• Leave the smoke alarms in place – even if they sound every time you start cooking.

Finally, practice makes perfect. Encourage kids to practice their home escape plans. Make a game out of making and repeatedly practicing an escape “map “or plan.

Seattle Fire Day at the MOHAI

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Museum Admission is Free from     10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On Saturday October 5, 2013, the Seattle Fire Department, in partnership with the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) will kick off Fire Prevention Month with a special program, The Seattle Fire Day. The program includes a variety of activities for children and their parents.

The Seattle Fire Department Public Education Unit will set up a home fire evacuation obstacle course. The demonstration teaches children how to crawl low below the smoke and heat as well as how to get out and stay out if they experience a home fire.

Seattle Firefighters will read stories to kids which drive home the message of fire prevention. Also children can learn how to put on fire gear and get a chance to see both antique and modern day firefighting equipment.

Visitors will get a chance to tour MOHAI’s Great Seattle Fire Theater, located in the museum’s core exhibit on Seattle history, True Northwest: The Seattle Journey, which includes the infamous glue pot that supposedly started Seattle’s massive blaze of 1889. The fire destroyed 120 acres (25 city blocks). Thousands of people were left without homes and thousands more were left without jobs due to their workplaces burning down. At the time, the City of Seattle estimated damages of more than 8 million dollars. The number may have been as high as 20 million dollars if you add in personal losses and water and electrical damage

http://www.mohai.org/visit-us/mohai-calendar/eventdetail/643/-/seattle-fire-day

Seattle Firefighters Hit the Books to Promote Children’s Literacy

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Seattle-The Seattle Fire Department is partnering with the Seattle Public Library for a reading program aimed at increasing literacy, and raising awareness of home fire safety. The Firefighter Story Times at the Seattle Public Library is part of October’s Fire Prevention Month. Seattle Firefighters will read No Dragons for Tea to dozens of preschool children at the Seattle Public Library branches across the city. The Firefighters will be driving home important safety messages including “Firefighters are your friend”, “Crawl low under smoke” and “Get out and stay out”.

For more than a decade, Seattle Firefighters have volunteered for literacy events at various Seattle Public Library’s and Seattle Public Schools. The Firefighter Story Times are part of a month long push to educate the young people of the city and their families on fire safety tips. Preschool children are especially vulnerable to fire and burn injuries. During the month of October, Seattle Firefighters are reading to preschoolers at 10 different libraries throughout the city.

 

Here is a list of locations where the Story Times will take place:

Central Library
1000 4th Ave
Thursday, October 3
10:30 AM

Lake City Branch
12501 28th Ave NE
Monday, October 7
10:30 AM

South Park Branch
8604 8th Ave. S.
Wednesday, October 9
11:15 AM

Southwest Branch
9010 35th Ave. S.W.
Thursday, October 10
11:00 AM

Rainier Beach Branch
9125 Rainier Ave. S.
Tuesday, October 15
2:00 PM

Montlake Branch
2401 24th Ave. E.
Wednesday, October 16
11:00 AM

Magnolia Branch
2801 34th Ave. W
Tuesday, October 22
2:00 PM

University Branch
5009 Roosevelt Way NE.
Wednesday, October 23
11:15 AM

Beacon Hill Branch
2821 Beacon Ave. S.
Thursday, October 24
10:30 AM

Greenwood Branch
8016 Greenwood Ave N
Wednesday, October 30
10:30 AM

Seattle Firefighters Launch Annual Campaign for MDA’s Fill-the-Boot

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Seattle Firefighters will take to the streets to collect donations for the Muscular Dystrophy’s Fill-the-Boot campaign. The collections will take place at various places across the city from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the following dates:

• Friday August 16th
• Saturday, August 17th
• Friday, September 20th
• Friday, October 18th

Last year, Seattle Firefighters collected $118,851 for MDA. In 2012, the International Association of Fire Fighters raised over $28 million for MDA, making the grand-total for the 59-year tradition over $500,000,000. Firefighters have been volunteering their time and, don’t forget, boots—to help children and adults with muscle-deteriorating diseases since 1954.

This is Seattle’s 16th year working with MDA on the Fill-the-Boot campaign. Firefighters will be at various street corners each day, asking motorists to drop donations into their boots.

Proceeds raised during the street side campaign will help support MDA services and research programs, including transportation services, support groups, and local clinics.

MDA is a volunteer health agency working to defeat more than 40 forms of Muscular Dystrophy and related diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services and far-reaching professional and public health education. MDA maintains clinics for area adults and children affected by neuromuscular diseases at Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and the University of Washington Medical Center.

Community invited to check out Seattle’s newest fire station

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Fire Station 14 hosts an open house May 16, 2013, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

SEATTLE – The Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Fire Fighters Union, Local 27, invite the community to check out the completed renovation of Seattle’s historic Fire Station 14, located at 3224 Fourth Ave. S in the SODO District, during an open house on May 16, 2013, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Fire Station 14 is home to the Seattle Fire Department’s Technical Rescue Team. Their specialties involve collapsed buildings, trench cave-ins, high angle rope rescues, marine accidents requiring the Dive Team, confined space emergencies and heavy machinery and transportation incidents. The Tech Rescue Team is centrally located in order to quickly respond anywhere in the city to various high level rescues.

“This is an opportunity for the residents of Seattle to learn more about our nationally recognized Technical Rescue Team “says Fire Chief Gregory Dean. “These firefighters are highly trained to respond to incidents that pose the highest safety risk to both victims and firefighters.”

Fire Station 14 is one of 32 neighborhood fire stations being upgraded, renovated or replaced through the Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Program, which was approved by Seattle voters in 2003. Six personnel are on duty at the station per shift.

Built in 1927, Fire Station 14 was designated a historic landmark by the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board in 2005. This designation limits changes to the façade of the building; all exterior modifications completed as part of this renovation were approved by the board.

The $8.8 million renovation project included the addition of a new 1,600 square foot apparatus bay; seismic upgrades; new insulated windows and a new roof; new decontamination facilities; new emergency dive gear storage and cleaning facilities; and more. Construction began in August 2012 and was completed in March 2013.

The renovated building reflects the city’s commitment to green design practices. Seattle is seeking a LEED Silver certification for the facility, which includes low VOC (volatile organic compound) construction materials; new insulated windows; a solar hot water heating system, located on the roof; and LED interior lighting.

“Seattle is leading the way in our push for environmentally sustainable buildings,” says Mayor Mike McGinn. “I invite the public to come check out their newly renovated historic Fire Station.”

Fire Station 14 was developed by the city of Seattle’s Department of Finance and Administrative Services, designed by Bassetti Architects of Seattle and built by Turner Construction Company.

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