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News and events from the Seattle Fire Department

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

Seattle Fire Kicks off Fire Prevention Month Friday

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On Friday, October 2, the Seattle Fire Department, in partnership with the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) will kick off Fire Prevention Month with a special program: Lessons of the Past & Present: What the Seattle Fire can teach us about fire safety today. Admission to the museum will be free, and from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., visitors can tour antique fire trucks, a modern ladder truck and see arson dog demonstrations with Henny the Arson Dog.

Inside MOHAI, kids can talk with firefighters about their jobs today, and enjoy firefighter story times and fire safety activities. Also on view is the Great Seattle Fire exhibit which includes the infamous glue pot that supposedly started the massive blaze.

During October, MOHAI educators, in partnership with the Seattle Fire Department, will be offering an elementary classroom program: Cracking the History Code: Lessons of the Great Seattle Fire. Registration is available at www.seattlehistory.org.

For a complete schedule of Seattle Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Month activities, including Firefighter Story Times at Seattle Public Libraries, visit www.seattle.gov/fire

New Smoke Alarms Installed in 33 Haller Lake Homes

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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.

October is Fire Prevention Month

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This October, the Seattle Fire Department is hosting a series of events for children and families to celebrate Fire Prevention Month.

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Lessons of the Past & Present: What the Great Seattle Fire can teach us about fire safety today.

Hosted by the Musuem of History and Industry on Friday, October 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

  • Tour antique fire trucks
  • Talk with firefighters and learn about their jobs today
  • Arson dog demonstrations
  • Firefighter story times
  • Fire safety activities for kids
  • Seattle Fire Department history
  • Tour the Great Seattle Fire exhibit
  • FREE ADMISSION- Bring your families!

  

Graham HIll 018

Firefighter Story Times and The Seattle Public Library


Firefighters read fire safety stories to preschoolers at local library branches throughout the month.

Thursday, October 1
Central Library @ 10:30 AM
With Fire Chief Gregory Dean

Friday, October 2
Museum of History & Industry @ 10:30

Wednesday, October 7
Capital Hill Branch @ 10:30 AM
With Fire Marshal Chief John Nelsen

Thursday, October 8
University Branch @ 10:30 AM

Wednesday, October 14
High Point Branch @ 3:00 PM

Thursday, October 15
Lake City Branch @ 10:30 AM
Fremont Branch @ 11:00 AM

 

School Programs and the Museum of History and Industry: Cracking the History Code: Lessons of the Great Seattle Fire

  • Offered throughout the month of October
  • Facilitated by museum educators and the Seattle Fire Department
  • To register: www.seattlehistory.org

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.

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.

Dry Weather Fire Safety

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So far in the month of July, the Seattle Fire Department has responded to more than 150 warm weather-related fires involving dry grass, bark and shrubs. Seattle residents can help reduce the chance of such outdoor fires by following a few simple steps:

• Remove long grass, weeds or anything that can burn from around your home. This includes limbs that touch your home or hang near the roof.

• Remove dead plants or bushes as soon as possible.

• Clear roof and gutters of needles and leaves.

• Make sure cigarettes have cooled completely before throwing them out. Carelessly discarded cigarettes can easily start a fire in dry conditions.

For a Summer Fire Safety Fact Sheet, visit: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/pubEd/brochures/Summer%20Safety.pdf

Photo by West Seattle Blog

Firefighters douse a brush fire in West Seattle. Photo by West Seattle Blog

Photo by West Seattle Blog

There have been more than 150 brush and bark fires in the City of Seattle since July 1. Photo by West Seattle Blog

Plan a Safe Fourth of July

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With Fourth of July around the corner, the Seattle Fire Department would like to remind the public that there are no legal fireworks in the City of Seattle. Fireworks present a safety risk to those who use them and a fire hazard to property. Every year, the Seattle Fire Department responds to fireworks-related fires and injuries, and each and every one of these incidents could be avoided.

Seattle Statistics:

• Between January 2000 and July 2008, the Seattle Fire Department responded to 137 fireworks related fires.

• The estimated cost of damages for fireworks related fires between January 2000 and July 2008 amounted to nearly one million dollars.

• In 2005, at least 15 Seattle residents were treated at hospitals due to fireworks-related injuries.

• The City Council’s 1993 decision to ban fireworks has dramatically reduced the number of fires and injuries caused by fireworks.

Any fireworks related fires or injuries should be reported directly to 911, however, on July 4, 911 centers become overloaded with non-emergency fireworks calls. Do not call 911 unless you have a life-threatening emergency and need help from police, fire or medics. Unnecessary 911 calls block people with real emergencies from reaching 911 to get help. Fireworks violations can be reported to the Seattle Police non-emergency number at (206) 625-5011.