Seattle Responder - September 2020

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 09/04/2020 02:00 PM PDT

Message from the Fire Chief

As summer winds down and I look back at the last several weeks, there have been a number of significant trends in fires and water safety. On Aug. 20, the fire department responded to a 3-alarm fire on Sturgus Ave. S. that totaled $5 million in damage and a structure fire at a fruit stand on Rainier Ave. S., which had fires set three prior times since July. Other fires have been intentionally set in dumpsters and recycling bins along Rainier Ave. S. and in Beacon Hill. These are being investigated by the Seattle Police, and the Arson Alarm Foundation is offering award money for information that leads to an arrest or conviction.

We need the public’s help in identifying the person(s) responsible for setting these fires. If you see someone illegally setting a fire, call 911 immediately. Please also continue to take steps to reduce the chance of set fires occurring, and visit our Fireline Blog where we will continue to keep the community informed of any additional fires that may occur.

Sadly, we have also had several recent water responses that did not end well. On Aug. 9, two individuals in two different instances drowned while enjoying Lake Washington. A third person also drowned within a 10-day time frame. This is an unfortunate reminder to always wear a life jacket when swimming in open water, even if you are an experienced swimmer. If someone goes under, call 911 immediately to get our response boats on the way.

Looking ahead, September is an important month of reflection. On Sept. 11, Seattle Police Interim Chief Diaz and I are honored to raise the U.S. flag on the Space Needle, and each fire station and facility will read aloud the names the 343 firefighters who died that day. COVID-19 has also changed the way we will remember our sisters and brothers at the IAFF Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Colorado Springs and at our own local ceremony on Friday, October 2, when we remember Lt. Jay Wheeler. Even though we will change how we memorialize those who have lost their lives in the line of duty, the gravity of their sacrifice will be felt deeply in our hearts and minds.

I am proud of our firefighters and the community for their resilience during these challenging times. This year has been difficult for us all in many ways, and as your Fire Chief, I want you to know we are here to serve you.

Stay safe,

Harold D. Scoggins, Fire Chief

“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”

Martin Luther King Jr.

Significant incidents recap

Aug. 7: Residential fire at 8600 block of Renton Ave. S.
Accidental fire caused by an overloaded power strip. Safety Tip: Never string multiple power strips together and be sure to unplug extension cords when not in use.

Aug. 12: Residential fire at 900 block of 6th Ave.
Crews responded to a brush fire that quickly extended to a nearby home. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but estimated loss is $60,000. Safety Tip: Make sure smoking materials and hot coals are fully extinguished and properly discarded.

Two presumed drownings in Lake Washington

Aug. 9: Two drownings in Lake Washington
Drownings in two separate incidents in Lake Washington. Unfortunately rescue swimmers and response boats were unable to rescue either individual. Safety Tip: Always wear a life jacket when swimming in open water, and call 911 immediately if someone goes under and does not resurface.

Aug. 20: 3-Alarm fire at 1000 block of Sturgus Ave. S.
Firefighters battled a massive fire in the Beacon Hill neighborhood at a new construction site involving four 3-story structures. Luckily, no injuries were reported. The fire was ruled incendiary with a total loss of $5 million.

Seattle Fire around the community

Sept. 26 is Virtual Fire Day with MOHAI!

Join us for the 2020 Seattle Fire Day, an online event with a mix of live and recorded content. You can virtually tour a fire engine and fire station and learn how a firefighter dons their bunker gear. Kids can also tune in for Story Time with Fire Chief Scoggins and firefighters as well as see a search and rescue dog demonstration!

For the first time, we will also provide many of these tours in Spanish. Videos and live Q&A sessions will be on our Facebook Page. Hope to see you then!

World War II veteran's 100th birthday

On Aug. 14, WWII veteran Hideyoshi Horikawa (Eddy) celebrated his 100th birthday. He served in WWII with the 442nd Infantry Regiment (Nisei volunteers from internment camps).

Due to COVID-19, friends and family planned a drive-by celebration and invited us along with the Seattle Police Department and Mayor Jenny Durkan to wish Eddy a Happy Birthday and to thank him for his service!

Click here to watch the video.

Seattle Times publishes story on recent water rescue responses, highlighting water safety tips

In August, we responded to six water rescues, and unfortunately, three resulted in presumed drownings. This is an unfortunate reminder that drownings can happen when you least expect it. We encourage you to practice boating safety and to be aware whenever you are near or in water.

The Seattle Times published an article detailing water rescue crews from both Seattle Fire and Seattle Police. The article provides insight on how both departments coordinate when responding to water rescues throughout the city's fresh water and salt water shorelines.

Keeping you safe

September is National Preparedness Month

Message from Fire Chief Scoggins on National Preparedness Month

Watch Fire Chief Scoggins' message on National Preparedness Month and stay tuned on our Fireline Blog for preparedness tips every Tuesday of September.

Construction sites, businesses and residents in South Seattle encouraged to take steps to prevent set fires

In August, Seattle firefighters responded to numerous set fires in the vicinity of Rainier Ave. S. and Beacon Hill. The majority of the fires have been set to recycling/garbage bins and to debris. However, our crews battled a 3-alarm fire in a new construction site involving four 3-story structures on the 1000 block of Sturgus Ave. S. Information on these fires continue to be referred to the Seattle Police Department’s Arson and Bomb Squad for follow up. In light of these recent incidents, Seattle Fire and Seattle Police are encouraging residents, businesses and building owners to take steps for reducing the risk of these types of fires. See our Fireline blog for tips.

How to safely store oily rags

Oils commonly used in oil-based paints, stains and varnishes release heat as they dry. A pile of oily rags can be dangerous because as they dry, heat is trapped and builds up to potentially cause a fire. Check out our Fireline Blog for how to safely store wet, oily rags.

Register for free COVID-19 testing

The City of Seattle now has four community testing sites for COVID-19. We are here to serve and are committed to the overall health of our community. Since June 5, more than 151,000 people have sought testing at the City’s free sites. Testing is quick, easy and free of charge.

If you are experiencing any of the COVID-19 symptoms, please seek testing right away. Visit seattle.gov/COVID19testing to register for an appointment at these sites. Testing is free, and results are generally available within 72 hours of testing.

Locations:

SoDo drive-through site: 3820 6th Ave. S. (Monday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
Aurora drive-through site: 12040 Aurora Ave. N. (Monday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
Rainier Beach walk-up site: 8815 Seward Park Ave. S.
West Seattle walk-up site (Southwest Athletic Complex): 2801 SW Thistle St.