Message from the Fire Chief

National Preparedness Month is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster planning. This year’s theme is ‘Prepared, Not Scared’. The City has long known that Seattle is vulnerable to many types of disasters, including earthquakes. We must be prepared to be on our own for a minimum of seven-10 days before we can expect help to arrive. 

This means we must prepare BEFORE, not AFTER disaster strikes. I encourage each of you to take time this month to prepare your family and home by building a kit, making a plan and knowing how to help each other. Read more in our "National Preparedness Month" section below.

September is also a month for the fire service to honor and remember the fallen at the IAFF National Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Colorado Springs. We are adding a name to the wall this year, Seattle Firefighter Marvin Larry, who passed away on March 20, 2018 after a long battle with a career-related illness. 

Additionally, we are partnering with the Seattle Police Department to host a joint event commemorating the 18th anniversary of 9/11. The event will be held at the Seattle Center from noon-12:30 p.m. on Sept. 11, and is open to members of the public. I will provide brief remarks along with Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best. Following will be a Moment of Silence to remember those who lost their lives that day and as a result of 9/11.

We continue to support national efforts of bringing attention to the dangers of firefighting and associated diseases.

Stay safe,

Harold D. Scoggins, Fire Chief

For the first time, we hosted SEATTLE FIRE DAY in South Seattle at Stan Sayres Memorial Park. The event was a huge success, with over 500 members of the community attending to explore the fire truck, aid car and fire boat. Chief Harold Scoggins read "No Dragons for Tea" to children during firefighter story time, and search and rescue dogs Kersee and Cannon showed off their abilities to climb ladders and find people hidden from view. Thank you to the South Seattle community for welcoming us and making this such a fun day!

For people who live in apartments or condominiums, the sound of the building fire alarm can be jolting and frightening. You may not know if there is an actual fire in the building or if your neighbor burned some toast and has left the front door open. Regardless, it’s important to take every alarm seriously and begin your escape plan quickly.

Do I stay inside my apartment or leave the building? That depends. For people able to use stairs, you have a choice. You may evacuate using the stairs or seek shelter inside of an apartment.

Here are a few tips to help you be better prepared for a building fire alarm.

If you can evacuate, do so immediately.

1. Leave your apartment.
2. Close the door as you go.
3. Use the stairs, not the elevator, to leave the building.
4. Go to your building’s outside meeting place.
5. Wait for instructions. Do not re-enter the building until given permission.

For people who can’t use stairs or can’t access a stairwell because of smoke in the hallway, shelter in place:

1. Stay inside your apartment.
2. Keep your doors and windows closed.
3. Place a towel or clothing at the base of the door to keep smoke from entering.
4. Call 911 if smoke comes into your apartment.

Make a plan before the next fire alarm sounds. Your plan should include all members of the household.

For more information, view the Fire Safety Handbook for Multi-Residential Buildings.

The City's Office of Emergency Management produced a video about the importance of preparing for disasters. Their website provides a wealth of safety information as well as helpful tips on what to do when disaster strikes. Ready.gov has additional information on how to prepare for the different types of disasters we may face.