According to the National Fire Protection Association, from 2014 to 2018, US fire departments responded to an average of 7,600 home fires started by candles per year. These fires cause an annual average of 81 civilian deaths and 677 civilian injuries, as well as $278 million in property damage. During this period, candles… [ Keep reading ]
Prepare for potential power outages with the high winds we are experiencing in the Seattle area. Keep in mind that if the power goes out, burning gas, wood or charcoal inside your home will increase your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. It is an invisible, odorless gas that can cause… [ Keep reading ]
Let’s Talk Cooking! This week we are highlighting the leading cause of home fires: UNATTENDED COOKING. Most home fires start in the kitchen when a person starts cooking and forgets about the food on the stove. It is easy to get distracted by a person, another task, a phone call… [ Keep reading ]
October is Fire Prevention Month in Seattle and this year the Seattle Fire Department will be highlighting a new fire safety topic weekly. This week we are highlighting the importance of having working smoke alarms and knowing how to safely respond to a sounding alarm. Did you know? Between 2014… [ Keep reading ]
October is Fire Prevention Month in Seattle and this year the Seattle Fire Department will be highlighting a new fire safety topic weekly. This week we are highlighting calling 9-1-1 for emergencies. 9-1-1 is a critical part of our emergency response system. When someone calls 9-1-1 for a medical or… [ Keep reading ]
Seconds count during a home fire. Having an escape plan and practicing it can make a difference should a fire occur. Every September, Seattle-area students practice fire drills at school to make sure students and staff know what to do when the fire alarm sounds. Yet, most families do not… [ Keep reading ]
Now is a good time to check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to make sure that they are working properly. Also, make sure to vacuum around your smoke alarms. Keep smoke alarms free of cob webs and small insects which can set off an smoke alarm. Yes, it can… [ Keep reading ]
Over the weekend, the Seattle Fire Department responded to two residential home fires that started on rooftops. In both situations, fire investigators identified improperly discarded smoking materials as the probable source of ignition. Every summer, we respond to fires that are caused by smoking materials left unattended or discarded improperly…. [ Keep reading ]
July 15th is National Pet Fire Safety Day. Don’t forget to include your furry family members into your emergency plan should a fire occur. According to American Humane, more than half a million pets are impacted by house fires every year. Sometimes, the house fires are started by the pets… [ Keep reading ]
The long stretch of warm, dry summer days is keeping firefighters busy with dry-weather related fires. Since July 1, the Seattle Fire Department has responded to 65 brush and bark-related fires. Due the the dry conditions, the King County Fire Marshal issued a fire safety burn ban on June 24,… [ Keep reading ]
