Firefighters responded to a house fire just after 2:00 a.m. on Friday, September 25 at 2211 N. 59th Street. When firefighters arrived there were flames coming from the second floor of a two story home. Residents were able to get out safely and without any injuries. Firefighters had the fire under control within about 10 minutes. Fire Investigators determined that the fire was accidental, caused by an overheated light fixture. Damage was estimated at $70,000.
Morning Fire Caused by Improper Disposal of Smoking Materials
At 2:30 a.m. this morning the Seattle Fire Department responded to a report of smoke coming from a five story apartment building located at 1000 Queen Anne Avenue North. Firefighters arrived to find fire in a two bedroom apartment on the second floor of the building. Firefighters evacuated the building and were able to put the fire out in about 15 minutes. Two occupants were treated at the scene for minor smoke inhalation but neither required transport to the hospital.
Fire Investigators determined that the fire was accidental, caused by improper disposal of smoking materials. The fire was contained to one unit and damage was estimated at $125,000.
New Smoke Alarms Installed in 33 Haller Lake Homes
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
This October, the Seattle Fire Department is hosting a series of events for children and families to celebrate Fire Prevention Month.
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!
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
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.
Ground Broken at Site of the New Fire Station 38
Mayor Greg Nickels, along with City Councilmember Jean Godden, Fire Chief Gregory Dean, Fleets and Facilities Director Brenda Bauer, firefighters assigned to Engine 38 and members of the community today broke ground for the new Fire Station 38 in the Hawthorne Hills neighborhood. The current facility, built in 1930, is the smallest among Seattle’s 33 neighborhood fire stations.
Funded by the 2003 Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Levy program, the new station is one of 18 Fire Levy projects. Replacing the old Fire Station 38 is an important step towards bringing Seattle’s fire facilities into the 21st century.
The new, larger station will meet current seismic code — and provide the space necessary for modern equipment and operational requirements. The replacement station is designed to withstand an earthquake and allow firefighters to provide critical services to the community.
Fire Station 38, located at 5503 33rd Avenue NE, houses Engine 38. In 2008, Engine 38 went on more than 1,781 alarms. The new station, located seven blocks east of the current station at 4004 NE 55th Street, will more than triple in size, expanding from 2,568 square feet to 8,328 square feet.
Firefighting Father and Son Battle Seattle House Fire
Father and son, Dan (right in photo) and James (left in photo) Richards, fought their first fire together today when both Engine 39 and Engine 31 were dispatched to a house fire in Lake City. Dan Richards has worked for the Seattle Fire Department for 37 years and normally works as the driver on Ladder 9, which responds out of Fire Station 17 in the University District. His son James has been working for the Seattle Fire Department for five years and works on Engine 31 which responds out of Fire Station 31 in Northgate. The father-son duo typically work on different shifts so they don’t run into each other at work very often. Dan was working an extra shift today on Engine 39, which responds out of Fire Station 39 in Lake City.
Morning Fire in Lake City Ruled Accidental
Firefighters responded to a house fire at 14092 23rd Place NE at 9:12 a.m. Wednesday morning. When Engine 39 arrived at the scene they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the front side of a one story house. One occupant was able to get out of the house safely prior to the Fire Department’s arrival. The fire spread up into the attic space and firefighters cut holes in the roof to ventilate and pulled apart the ceilings to ensure that the hotspots were put out. Forty firefighters responded to the fire and there were no injuries. Fire Investigators determined that the fire was accidental, caused by combustible materials placed too close to an operating wood stove. Damage was estimated at $180,000.
Photo by Mike Heaton
Photo by Mike Heaton
Photo by Mike Heaton
Local Firefighters Honor New York Firefighters in First Annual 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb
Firefighters from around the region will take part in Seattle’s First Annual 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb on Saturday, September 12 at Two Union Square in Downtown Seattle. As they climb, each firefighter will carry a photo of one of the 343 firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty in the attack on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001.
Beginning at 9:30 a.m. firefighters will climb to the 55th floor of the tower twice, representing the 110 stories of the Twin Towers. The 9-11 Stair Climb was organized by Seattle Firefighter Melissa Woolsey and is sponsored by Seattle’s Bravest Charity and the Seattle Fire Department. All proceeds of the stair climb will benefit the New York City Widows and Orphans Fund.
Firefighters rescue man trapped in 15-foot deep trench
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.
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.
