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News and events from the Seattle Fire Department

Baseboard heater fire causes $65,000 in damage

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Early Saturday morning firefighters responded to a fire in an apartment in Queen Anne. The residents got out safely and firefighters put the fire out quickly, but the fire still caused $65,000 in damage to the apartment. Fire Investigators determined that the fire was caused by a baseboard heater that came into contact with combustible materials. Fires caused by furniture, bedding, and other materials placed too close to baseboard heaters and portable heaters are the most common types of heating-related residential fires.

Here are a few tips to keep your home heating safe this winter:

• Give your heaters space – Do not put anything next to a heater.
• Never use an extension cord with a portable heater.
• 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.
• Clean or replace heating furnace filters regularly.
• Never permit electrical cords to drape across heaters.
• Inspect all heating equipment yearly and always hire an experienced electrician to do any necessary repair work on your baseboard heaters.

Click on this image to see the proper and improper distance between baseboard heaters and combustible materials:

The "Do's and Don'ts" of baseboard heaters

Fore more on home fire safety, visit http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/homesafety/homeFireSafety.htm

Careful with Candles – Holiday Fire Safety Tips

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December is the peak month for candle fires. Here are a few tips to keep you and your family safe when using candles:

  • Extinguish all candles when leaving a room or before going to sleep.
  • Always use a candleholder specifically designed for candle use. The holder should be heat resistant, sturdy and large enough to contain any drips or melted wax.
  • Place lighted candles where they won’t be knocked over by children, pets or anyone else.
  • Keep burning candles away from items that can catch on fire such as furniture, drapes, bedding, carpets, books, paper, etc.

Fore more holiday fire safety tips – visit: http://seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/holiday/default.htm

Tips for a Safe Holiday Season – Christmas Lights

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xmaslight1Over the weekend, a house fire in Seattle was caused by an overloaded electrical outlet that had multiple strings of Christmas lights plugged into it. The fire caused $20,000 in damage. Every year, Christmas trees and lighting-related fires spike in December and January. Cords and plugs are the leading type of equipment involved Christmas tree fires.

Before you hang up holiday lights this year, Seattle Fire Department wants to remind you to make sure you take the following steps:

  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use decorative lights.
  • Do not use any string lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or loose bulbs .
  • Do not connect more than three light strands together.
  • To avoid damage to the cord, do not use nails or staples to hang lights.
  • Always unplug tree lights before leaving home or going to sleep.

 For more tips on holiday fire safety – visit:  http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/holiday

Safety Tip – How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

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Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause severe illness or death. Carbon Monoxide is found in combustion fumes, such as those produced by cars and trucks, small gasoline engines, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, and gas ranges and heating systems.

To prevent CO poisoning:

  •  Never use the following inside homes, garages and other closed spaces, or outside an open window: generators, charcoal grill, camp stove, vehicle or other gas engine.
  •  Never use gas ovens to heat your home, even for a short time.
  •  If you use a fireplace or wood stove, make sure that chimneys and flues are in good condition and are not blocked.
  •  Make certain smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are installed on every level of your home and outside every sleeping area. Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.

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

To learn more visit:
http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/brochures/carbon%20monoxide.pdf

http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/preparedness/disaster/carbon-monoxide-english.aspx

Free Locks for Recycle Bins in Greenwood

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In an effort to help keep burnable materials secure, Seattle Public Utilities will provide locks for commercial recycling, garbage and food waste containers in the Greenwood neighborhood, within the boundaries of NW 75th Street to North 90th Street and from 3rd Ave NW to Fremont Ave North. Residents and business owners can call Waste Management Customer Service at 1-800-592-9995 to get a free lock for containers provided by Seattle Public Utilities contracted service providers.

Seattle Fire Department encourages residents to continue to be vigilant about cleaning up around their businesses and homes. Click on the following links for additional tips on how to prevent arson.

Arson Tips for Residents:
http://www.seattle.gov/fire/fmo/Info/Arson%20Tips%20for%20Residential.pdf

Arson Tips for Businesses:
http://www.seattle.gov/fire/fmo/Info/Arson%20Tips%20for%20Business.pdf

Arson Tips in Spanish:
http://www.seattle.gov/fire/fmo/Info/Arson%20Tips%20in%20Espanol.pdf

Greenwood Arson Arrest

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The Arson Task Force announced the arrest of a suspect in connection with the Greenwood arsons today. Members of the Seattle Police Department, Seattle Fire Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), held a press conference this afternoon detailing the early morning arrest of 46-year old Kevin Todd Swalwell.

Task force members had identified Swalwell as a person of interest in the Greenwood fires. Seattle Fire Investigators spotted him near the scene of a warehouse fire in Shoreline early this morning and contacted police. Swalwell was interviewed by police detectives and booked into the King County Jail for investigation of arson.

Seattle Police believe that Swalwell may be responsible for some if not all of the Greenwood arsons. Detectives are uncertain whether any additional suspects are connected to these crimes. Neighborhood arson patrols will continue until detectives are confident that these cases have been resolved. If you see anything suspicious taking place, call 911. If you have any information about any of the arsons, you can call the Arson Alarm Hotline at 1-800-55-ARSON. The Arson Alarm Foundation is offering up to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the arsonist. 

As a reminder, there are simple things you can do to make your homes and neighborhoods safer. One of the most important is to clean up the areas around your homes and businesses. Get rid of any burnable items and keep your recycle bins secure.

Arson Tips for Residents:  http://www.seattle.gov/fire/fmo/Info/Arson%20Tips%20for%20Residential.pdf

Arson Tips for Businesses: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/fmo/Info/Arson%20Tips%20for%20Business.pdf

Arson Tips in Spanish: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/fmo/Info/Arson%20Tips%20in%20Espanol.pdf

Now is also a very important time to make sure you have working smoke alarms and a fire safety plan. Seattle Fire Department offers free smoke alarms and installation for qualified homeowners.

Smoke Alarm Program: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/smokealarms/smokeAlarms.htm

Home Fire Safety: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/homesafety/homeFireSafety.htm

Fire Fact Sheets: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/brochures/brochures.htm

Greenwood Community Meeting – Location Change

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Due to the amount of interest, the venue for tonight’s community meeting has moved from Upper Crust Catering to the Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church. The meeting is sponsored by the Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Police Department to talk about the recent arsons in the Greenwood neighborhood and what residents can do to help prevent arson. The meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10 at the Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 7500 Greenwood Avenue North.

Arson Patrols Set for Greenwood

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The Seattle Fire Department will be conducting arson patrols and distributing arson prevention information in response to recent arsons in the Greenwood neighborhood.

Two fires occurred early this morning that fire investigators believe were started by the same person. The first fire was set on the back porch of a business at 3:43 a.m. at 300 Northwest 85th Street. Neighbors used fire extinguishers to help contain the fire until firefighters  arrived. The fire did not extend to the business and there were no injuries. Damage is estimated at $5,000. Shortly afterwards, at 4:11 a.m. firefighters responded to a fire at North 84th Street and Greenwood Avenue North. This fire was set between two buildings and damaged the exteriors of both buildings. There were no injuries. Damage is estimated at $20,000. 

On October 23, a fire was set in the Green Bean coffee house that burned three other businesses and caused $2 million in damages. Investigators are working to determine whether this fire is connected to this morning’s fires.

Anyone with information that may be related to arson can call the Arson Alarm Hotline at 1-800-55-ARSON. A reward may be provided for an arson conviction.  For any suspicious activity taking place, please call 911.

 

 

Change Your Smoke Alarm Battery When You Change Your Clock

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As the end of Daylight Saving Time approaches on Sunday, November 1st, the Seattle Fire Department wants to remind residents to change their smoke alarm batteries when they change their clocks. Smoke alarms powered by lithium long-life batteries do not need to be changed yearly.

Most fire deaths happen in homes without working smoke alarms. The most commonly cited cause of nonworking smoke alarms: dead or missing batteries. In a home fire, a working smoke alarm can cut the risk of death by half.

The Seattle Fire Department can install smoke alarms and batteries free of charge in homes where the homeowner is either a senior citizen, living on a low income, or has a disability. If you live outside the city of Seattle, please contact your local Fire Department to request assistance.

Smoke alarm maintenance is one of the simplest methods of protecting your home and family from fires. For more information or to request assistance changing smoke alarms and batteries contact the Seattle Fire Department at (206) 386-1337.

Home Heating Safety Tips from Seattle Fire Department

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Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January and February, and even though it’s only October, cold temperatures outside mean Seattle residents are turning on heaters at home.  As the cold weather begins, please keep in mind that while baseboard heaters are very efficient, they can be a serious fire hazard if used carelessly. Common sense can prevent a baseboard heater fire. Any time a flammable object comes in contact with a heater, a fire could result.

Home Heating Safety Tips

  • Keep items away from all heaters, including baseboard heaters.
  • All furniture, curtains, or any other items should be kept at least 12 inches away from baseboard heaters.
  • Never block the flow of heat.
  • Have your heating systems and chimneys inspected, cleaned and repaired prior to the heating season.

Make certain smoke alarms are installed on every level of your home and outside every sleeping area. Test your smoke alarms monthly. You should change the batteries at least once a year unless you use long life lithium batteries which last up to ten years.

For more fires safety information visit: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/brochures/brochures.htm