Seattle Fire around the community

Save the date: 2019 Virtual Seattle Fire Annual Awards Ceremony

You are invited to join us virtually this year for our 2019 Annual Awards Ceremony. A link to stream the event on YouTube will be published to the SFD Facebook page ahead of the event. Virtual doors will open at 11:45 a.m. on Dec. 16 for a pre-ceremony, with the ceremony from 12-1 p.m. We hope you will help us to honor fire department employees and members of the public who have shown exemplary service and dedication to our community.

Health One celebrates one-year anniversary

Photo taken before COVID-19

Our Health One program celebrated its one-year anniversary in November. The program helps to address requests to 911 for issues like substance abuse, non-emergent medical issues and a need to access services. In its first year of serving the Seattle community, Health One dispatched 843 times and served well over 500 clients. The Health One unit - which is staffed with two firefighter/EMTs and a Human Services Department case manager – has proven to be successful in diverting patients away from hospital emergency rooms and instead providing access to services. The Health One program allows other SFD units to focus on critical emergencies, like structure fires, vehicle collisions and cardiac arrest patients.

Case study

Health1 received a referral from an SFD aid unit (Aid 4) for a 48-year-old female who had suffered injury from an assault. The client told Aid 4 that she was fleeing domestic violence and was housing insecure. Aid 4 offered the services of Health One and she requested that they contact her. 

Health One reached out to the client who shared that she had recently arrived in Seattle and was fleeing domestic violence. She was staying with a family member downtown but that arrangement was unstable. She requested help accessing support for victims of domestic violence, housing, medication and food assistance.  Health One case managers spoke to the client multiple times by phone to offer ideas and options she might pursue. Health One also contacted multiple housing and support programs in an effort to find one that had openings and would fit the client’s needs. 

After the client selected an appropriate program, Health One met her at her family member’s apartment and arranged transportation in a Lyft cab. Health One assisted with belongings and provided a feeling of security for the client while she waited for transportation. Health One has had follow up conversations with this client by phone as she seeks permanent secure housing and support, and the team is reassured that she is making progress and advocating for herself well. 

Seattle Fire Department options for outdoor dining and services

Tents - The Seattle Fire Department has begun issuing free tent permits to help small businesses continue their operations outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Permits have conditions to ensure your tent is safe for employees and customers, as part of the process you will also receive a free on-site inspection from SFD to help ensure things are set up properly. More details available here. Permit refunds will be provided for tent permits issued since July 1, 2020, when the purpose was to move a business or service outside given public health restrictions on indoor use. 

Heating and lighting - The best option for heating and lighting in tents is electrical. During the COVID emergency operations period, the Fire Marshal will now allow electric heaters powered through extensions cords in tents. No permit is required. Extension cords for heaters must be properly rated based on the high power draw of the heating appliances. Electric lighting is also allowed, as are votive candles placed on tables. If you choose to use propane/LPG or diesel to fuel heaters, please know that SFD has a free permit option for you as well. However, both the Fire Code and the Governor’s new orders prohibit propane use inside a tent, which means that the common “mushroom” style heaters are not allowed inside tents. Outdoor dining equipment can outside 24/7, however the City recommends tents not be occupied during periods of heavy snow or ice accumulation, and smaller tents should be brought inside during high winds (propane must generally remain outside).

Read more about the permitting process and fire safety for outdoor tents and heating in this online document.

Bring holiday cheer to children in our community: support Toys for Tots! We know many Seattleites make it a holiday tradition to bring toys to their local fire station to benefit the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots. While we aren’t able to receive visitors at our stations this year, Seattle firefighters and the Marine Corps will be at these locations to collect toys in a safe, no-contact way: Sunday, Dec. 6 at the University Village parking lot (NE 45th St.) Saturday, Dec. 12 at the Rainier QFC ( 2707 Rainier Ave. S) Both events are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you can’t make either event, there are dozens of Seattle-area locations where you can donate. Companies like Edward Jones, Pep Boys and CubeSmart Self Storage will collect at several of their locations. Other participating organizations and businesses can be found at this link. Check closely for the last day those locations can accept toys. Most wrap up by December 14. The final day to bring toys directly to the Marine Corps’ warehouse in Kent is Wednesday, Dec. 16: 20408 87th Ave. S.

Recruit Class 111 celebrates completion of fire academy and probation at virtual graduation 

On Nov. 12 we officially welcomed 19 firefighters (1 absent in picture) to the Seattle Fire Department! Congratulations to Recruit Class 111 for successfully completing recruit academy and their one-year probation. These firefighters are ready to serve our city for many years to come!

Over twenty individuals graduate from Seattle's Police and Fire Chaplain Training Academy  Congratulations to the 22 men and women who graduated from the Police Fire Chaplain Training Academy! Since 2002, Seattle Fire has provided personnel, apparatus and facilities to assist in training 870 Police and Fire Chaplains from around the world. Chaplains are a vital part of the fire service, as they respond to traumatic incidents to help families emotionally cope with the event. Additionally, Chaplains often serve as a resource for fire department personnel in many different capacities.

Bloodworks NW First Responders Virtual Blood Drive results

We thank our community for the support during this year's First Responders Virtual Blood Drive. The blood drive began on Sept. 11 and lasted through Oct. 28. Nearly 200 firefighters, EMTs and law enforcement personnel donated blood with 57 being first time donors to Bloodworks NW. 

One unit of blood can help save three lives. We encourage you to donate blood by scheduling an appointment with Bloodworks NW.

Keeping you safe

Holiday hours: Seattle COVID-19 community test sites As we ready ourselves for the upcoming holidays, following public health guidance remains critical to stopping the spread of COVID-19 in our region. Everyone should avoid travel and only gather with household members. Remember to get tested right away if you develop any symptoms by registering for an appointment online. Testing is quick, easy and free of charge. Below are the community test sites holiday hours: Dec. 24: Closed Dec. 25: Closed Dec. 31: Open normal hours Jan. 1: Closed Jan. 18: Open normal hours Feb. 15: Open normal hours

As we all look for ways to brighten up the long, dark nights and bring joy to the holiday season, newer technologies make the task safer as well as a little easier.

Outdoor lights LED lights have revolutionized the holiday decoration industry, and options abound on color, pattern and other features. While LED lights do generate some heat, most do not produce infrared radiation, allowing more energy to be used toward producing light, reducing fire risk. With LED lights, save energy and gain peace of mind knowing your outdoor house lights won’t cause a repeat of Clark Griswold’s experience in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Limiting the number of light strands to three or no more than recommended by manufacturer’s instructions is always a safe bet. Or forego stringing up lights altogether and set up an LED laser display that can be both waterproof and remote-controlled from the warmth and safety of your home.

Lights for indoor trees Whether you choose an artificial or live tree, LED lights are also your safest bet. The real danger with live trees isn’t necessarily the type of lights, it’s in not keeping the tree sufficiently hydrated for weeks after it’s in your home. Be sure to water daily and make it is placed well away from fireplaces and other heat sources. Watch this video to see the dramatic fire difference between a dry tree vs. a high moisture. While tree fires are rare, when they happen, they are dangerous. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, a quarter of all winter fires stem from indoor trees placed too close to a heat source, with one out of every 52 tree fires resulting in death.

Flameless candles More than one-third of all home decoration fires are started by burning candles. In the month of December, more than half of all home decoration fires are due to burning candles. Go flameless this year to totally eliminate the hazard of candles getting left unattended, or worse yet, starting a major fire in your home. Many battery-operated styles are available, with features such as remote start and timers. While the pandemic has brought a year of unprecedented disruption the our daily lives, with a little forethought, this can still be a holiday season to safely remember, cherish and enjoy those who mean so much to us. The Seattle Fire Department wishes you a very safe and happy holiday season!

When the power goes out

Winter storms can lead to power outages that are made worse by colder temperatures as people resort to unconventional methods of heating their homes. 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 severe illness or death. Here are a few safety tips to help prepare for when the power goes out:

Prepare

• Make sure carbon monoxide alarms are installed on every level of your home and outside every sleeping area. Test your CO alarms along with your smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.
• Keep an emergency kit ready that includes:
  • first-aid kit
  • flashlight with extra batteries
  • glow-in-the-dark stick lights
  • portable radio
  • manual can opener
  • portable charger for your phone
  • prescription medications
• Stock up on:
  • non-perishable foods
  • drinking water (one gallon per person per day)
  • warm clothing and blankets
• Know how to manually override your electric garage door or gateway
• If you live in a secured building, know which exit doors to use during an outage

During the power outage

• Never touch or approach a downed wire or anything in direct contact with it
• Check Seattle City Light's outage map for an estimated restoration time
• Do not burn charcoal or use gasoline generators indoors, including the garage
• Never use gas ovens to heat your home, even for a short time
• Do not use candles as a light source nor any open flame as a heat source
• Before using a fireplace or wood stove, make sure that chimneys and flues are in good condition and are not blocked
• Move flammable materials at least three feet away from a fireplace or wood stove
• Switch electrical appliances off after the power goes out to prevent fires and equipment damage

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.