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News and events from the Seattle Fire Department

Seattle Fire Investigator Determines W. Seattle Car Fires are Arson

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Seattle Fire Investigators determined two overnight car fire were intentionally set. The first fire occurred on November 17 at 10:22 p.m. near 18th Avenue SW and SW Myrtle Street in West Seattle. The fire started inside a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. An investigator is estimating damage of $6,500. Seattle Police Department Arson and Bomb Squad detectives responded to the scene.

At 12:19 a.m. on Friday November 18, a 911 call came into dispatch reporting a second car fire at 28th Avenue SW and SW Brandon Street. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames and discovered the interior of a 2005 BMW heavily damaged by the fire. Seattle Police Department Arson and Bomb Squad Detectives responded to the scene. The total loss of the car is estimated at $16,000.

Both cases are currently under investigation by the Seattle Police Department Detectives.

Greenwood Arsonist Tipsters to Receive Award Monday

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Seattle- A Seattle sister and brother will receive an $18,500 award for giving authorities the information that helped lead to the arrest and conviction of the Greenwood Arsonist.
In May of 2010, Kevin Todd Swalwell pled guilty to setting 10 fires in Greenwood and one fire in Shoreline. A judge sentenced him to 30 years in prison. A tip led authorities to arrest Swalwell.

Between June 19 and November 12, 2009, Swalwell set 10 fires in the Greenwood area causing more than 2.2 million dollars in damage. One person suffered non-life threatening burns during one of the fires.

At the time, an Arson Task Force was formed between the Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Police Department.

The Arson Alarm Foundation and Safeco Insurance offered a large award for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the arsonist. The award led the brother and sister to come forward with information that assisted investigators in solving the case.

Greenwood Arson Award Presentation

DATE: Monday October 24, 2011
TIME: 10:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
LOCATION: Tap Root Theater 204 N. 85th Street Seattle, WA 98103

Fire Prevention Month Kicks Off at MOHAI

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DATE: Saturday October 8, 2011

TIME: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

LOCATION: MOHAI 2700 24th Ave East(Admission is Free) 2700 24th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98112

The Seattle Fire Department, in partnership with the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) will kick off Fire Prevention Month with a special program that includes a variety of educational activities for children and their parents.

Henny the Arson Dog and her handler Captain Steve Baer will demonstrate how she uncovers evidence at arson scenes. The black lab has been used at more than130 fire investigations during the past five years in both Seattle and neighboring jurisdictions.

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. Kids will also learn to choose an outdoor meeting place with their family and at that meeting place, how to call 9-1-1 and give emergency dispatchers important information they need to provide help.

Everyone will get a chance to tour The Great Seattle Fire Exhibit 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.

Beacon Hill House Fire Declared Arson

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July 7- Seattle Fire Investigators ruled arson as the cause of a home fire on Beacon Hill. The fire began last night in a back bedroom of a single-story family home on the 4100 block of 15 Avenue South on Beacon Hill.

At 9:45 pm, dispatchers received multiple 911 calls about smoke coming from a brick home. Engine 13 arrived first and witnessed heavy smoke pouring from the home. The crew attacked the fire with water while firefighters from Ladder Truck 7 jumped on top of the roof and cut a hole, allowing the smoke and heat to escape. The fire was extinguished in less than 11 minutes, minimizing damage to the rest of the home.

Firefighters searched the home but did not find anyone at home.

Investigators determined the fire began in a back bedroom. The damage estimate is $65,000.