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News and events from the Seattle Fire Department

Firefighters Reward Kids for Proper Helmet Use

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On Friday, July 17, firefighters from Engine 29 in West Seattle were at Alki Beach handing out Safety Citations to children who were properly wearing their helmets. Each citation entitles the child to a free child-size sandwich at participating Subway locations. The program will continue through the summer at Fire Stations throughout the City. The goal of the program is to reduce the incidence of childhood head injuries.

According to the National SAFE Kids Coalition, head injury is the leading cause of death in bicycle crashes and is the most important determinant of bicycle-related death and permanent disability. Head injuries account for more than 60 percent of bicycle-related deaths, more than two-thirds of bicycle-related hospital admissions and about one-third of hospital emergency room visits for bicycling injuries. The single most effective safety device available to reduce head injury and death from bicycle crashes is a helmet.

Firefighters from Engine 29 help a child adjust her helmet.

Firefighters from Engine 29 help a child adjust her helmet.

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Children riding any kind of wheels should be wearing helmets!

Children riding any kind of wheels should be wearing helmets!

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

Firefighters Practice High Angle Rescues at South Lake Union Construction Site

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On Saturday, July 11 Seattle firefighters worked with construction crews from GLY Construction to practice high angle rescues at a South Lake Union construction site located at 301 Boren Avenue.

First, firefighters simulated rescuing injured patients from the bottom of the construction pit, which is approximately 100 feet below the street level. They placed the patient on a backboard and then into a Stokes rescue basket. Using ropes and an aerial ladder on a Seattle Fire Department Ladder Truck, they raised the patient out of the pit. Firefighters also collaborated with construction workers to utilize an on-site construction crane to lift a second patient out of the pit.

Following the pit rescues, firefighters from the Seattle Fire Department Technical Rescue Team practiced a high angle rope rescue scenario. A mock crane operator suffered a medical emergency in the cab of a 300 foot-tall tower crane, and firefighters brought the patient to safety using ropes and other specialized equipment.

Firefighters secure ropes to a Stokes rescue basket.

Firefighters secure ropes to a Stokes rescue basket.

The mock patient was lifted out of construction pit using ropes and an on-site construction crane.

The mock patient was lifted out of construction pit using ropes and an on-site construction crane.

Firefighters practice rescuing a Crane Operator from cab of a 300-foot-tall construction crane.

Firefighters practice rescuing a Crane Operator from cab of a 300-foot-tall construction crane.

Seattle Firefighters Fill-the-Boot for Muscular Dystrophy

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The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and the Seattle Fire Department, in conjunction with more than 20 other fire departments in the area, kicked off the 55th annual Fill-the-Boot campaign today on the steps of City Hall.

Many Seattle Firefighters attended today’s kickoff event, including Seattle Fire Chief Gregory Dean, IAFF Local 27 President Kenny Stuart and the Seattle Firefighter Pipes and Drums Band. Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell read a proclamation on behalf of Mayor Greg Nickels declaring July “Fill the Boot Month” in Seattle.

Starting Friday, July 10 Seattle Firefighters will be at various street corners around the City, asking motorists to drop donations into their boots. Last year, the Department contributed $56,000 to Western Washington’s overall total of $445,564. The goal this year is to raise more than $100,000 for the cause.

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.

Loca 27 President Kenny Stuart talks about MDA Fill-the-Boot

Local 27 President Kenny Stuart talks about MDA Fill-the-Boot

Seattle Firefighters Pipes and Drums Band performed at Wednesday's MDA Kick-Off

Seattle Firefighters Pipes and Drums Band performed at Wednesday's MDA Kick-Off

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Pioneer Square Fire Festival July 11

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Check out the Pioneer Square Fire Festival this Saturday, July 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Occidental Park (Main Street between 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue South). The Pioneer Square Fire Festival returns this year with a glimpse into Seattle’s past presented by the Last Resort Fire Department Museum, the Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum and the Klondike Gold Rush Museum. The festival features 15 vintage fire engines, police cars, a gold mining demonstration and lots of family friendly activities.  The Seattle Firefighter Pipes and Drum Band will also perform. The annual festival commemorates the1889 fire that destroyed most of downtown Seattle and gave rise to the historic Pioneer Square District neighborhood. For more information visit http://www.lastresortfd.org/Fire_Festival-09.htm.

Fireworks Cause $65,000 in Damage to U-District Home

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Seattle Fire Department Fire Investigators determined that fireworks caused an early morning fire in the University District on Sunday. Firefighters responded to the 4200 block of 12 Avenue NE at approximately 12:30 am July 5. Fireworks ignited a mattress that was leaning up against a detached garage. The fire extended from the mattress to the garage to the vacant house next door. Four fire engines, two ladder trucks, a medic unit and an aid car responded to the fire, along with support units. The fire was quickly put out and there were no injuries. Damage caused by the fire was estimated at $65,000.

A detached garage was damaged in the early morning fire.

A detached garage was damaged in the early morning fire.

Hazmat Response at Pacific Science Center

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On Friday, July 2 just before 8:30 a.m. the Seattle Fire Department Hazardous Materials Response Team responded to a report of a spill of approximately 10 gallons of Muriatic Acid in a machine room at the Pacific Science Center. Employees at the Science Center noticed the spill and got out of the room without injury. Muriatic acid is used for cleaning and disinfecting and is corrosive at a high concentration. The muriatic acid is normally pumped out to pools around the Science Center, along with water and a bleach solution, but a pump malfunction caused the acid to spill.

Fire Department crews isolated the area which is not accessible to the public. With the help of specialized Hazmat tools, they worked to neutralize the acid so that it could be safely cleaned up. There were no injuries as a result of this incident.

Firefighters decontaminate a Hazardous Materials Response Team member wearing a Level B Hazmat Suit.

Firefighters on the Hazardous Materials Response Team decontaminate another Firefighter wearing a Level B Hazmat Suit.

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.

Students from Columbia Basin Job Corps Stop by to Say Thanks

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Students and faculty from the Columbia Basin Job Corps stopped by Fire Station 25 today to say thank you to Seattle Firefighters and Police Officers who responded when their bus crashed last December. Eighty students from the Job Corps were aboard two buses that slid down an icy street and crashed through a guardrail above I-5 on December 19, 2008. The accident happened at the intersection of Thomas and Melrose Streets on Capitol Hill. Firefighters from Engine 25 were among the first to arrive on the scene. Seattle Fire Department crews evaluated the medical condition of all of the students and took eleven of them to Harborview Medical Center with minor injuries.

The group made a trip across the state from Moses Lake to visit with rescuers today. The students presented plaques with a photo of the students and signatures of those who were on board, along with a photo of the crash.

Students presented plaques to Firefighters and Police Officers.

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No Injuries at Fire in University District Copy Shop

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At 11:05 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, more than 30 Seattle firefighters responded to a report of fire at 4200 University Way Northeast. When the first unit arrived on the scene they found heavy flames inside a copy shop located on the first floor of a three story apartment building. Firefighters quickly attacked the fire, and through their efforts, the flames were knocked down in approximately ten minutes.

Crews evacuated residents from apartments above the copy shop and got everyone out of the building with no injuries. Quick work by firefighters prevented the fire from spreading beyond the copy shop.

Fire Investigators determined that the fire was accidental, caused by an overheated electrical cord. Damage was estimated at $600,000, including $200,000 in damages to the structure and $400,000 to the contents of the copy shop.