Message from the Fire Chief

The first month of 2020 was a time of honor and remembrance for the Seattle Fire Department.

January 5 marked 25-years since the Mary Pang Warehouse fire took the lives of Seattle Fire Lieutenant Walt Kilgore, Lieutenant Greg Shoemaker, Firefighter James Brown and Firefighter Randy Terlicker. This is a date that remains etched in the department’s collective memory and triggers many emotions for us and the families who lost their loved ones in that fire. As has been our tradition, the department will honor and remember these four and all other Seattle firefighters who have died in the line of duty during our annual fallen firefighter memorial on the first Friday in October.

As we honored the indelible impact of Dr. King’s work to advance civil rights, we acknowledged our own uneven journey toward racial and social equity. Hired in 1959, Claude Harris was the city’s first Black firefighter and rose through the ranks to become the department’s first Black Fire Chief in 1985. Even as he faced discrimination and bias, his desire to serve Seattle courageously opened doors for others to follow, including our second Black Fire Chief, Gregory Dean. I am proud to serve the Seattle Fire Department today as Fire Chief, and to continue our work toward a diverse, equitable and welcoming work place.

We have a busy month ahead – February is “Black History Month” and “Heart Month”. We will also recognize “Burn Awareness Week” beginning on February 2. Be sure to check our social media sites for important tips to keeping your heart healthy and a walk down memory lane as we honor the history of Black firefighters in the Seattle Fire Department.

Stay Safe,

Harold D. Scoggins, Fire Chief

Stay safe around downed wires

Winter storms are often accompanied by an increase in calls to 911 for reports of downed wires in neighborhoods. When possible, stay home and avoid avoid travel on icy roads during these winter weather events. However, if you do see a downed wire, be sure to follow these tips:

Always assume a downed power line is energized, resulting in possible electrocution.

Take steps to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning

When temperatures drop during the winter months, the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning increases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year approximately 50,000 people visit emergency rooms in the U.S. due to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

With colder weather and snow in the forecast for the Seattle area , now is the time to make sure that you are taking precautions to prevent CO poisoning. The good news is that CO poisoning is preventable.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause severe illness or death. CO is found in all fires, as well as fumes produced by charcoal or gas. It is produced by cars and trucks, small gasoline engines, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, and gas ranges and heating systems.

Here are ways to prevent CO poisoning:

• Do not use items that produce CO inside your home or garage or outside an open window.
• Never use gas ovens to heat your home, even for a short time.
• If you use a fireplace or wood stove, make sure that chimneys and flues are in good condition and are not blocked.
• Never idle a car in a garage, even when the garage door is open.
• Keep vents and flues free of debris. Debris can block ventilation lines.
• Make sure you have CO alarms on every level of your home and outside of the bedrooms. Replace batteries yearly to ensure your CO alarm will work if needed.

If the CO alarm sounds, turn off any heating appliance and open windows to get fresh air. Call 911 if you experience CO poisoning symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting or headaches, and move to fresh air immediately. If you suspect an appliance is the source, call a qualified technician to fix the problem before restarting the appliance.

• Carbon Monoxide facts in many languages
• CO Poisoning Prevention Handout