Happy New Year from the Seattle Fire Department!

The Seattle Fire Department wishes you and your family a Happy New Year and hopes 2021 brings you much joy and happiness. We remain committed to serving you during these challenging times, and as we enter the vaccination phase, are hopeful for a bright future ahead. Please watch the following video message from the King County Fire Chiefs Association, which forecasts a message of hope, unity and compassion for confronting the COVID-19 pandemic head-on in 2021. As a collective group of individuals, we can end this … and we can save lives.

Click here to watch the video.

Seattle Fire around the community

Seattle Fire members recognized for operating the City’s community test sites

From June to December in 2020, EMTs, paramedics and civilian staff working at the City’s community test sites conducted more than 500,000 COVID-19 tests. The test sites, which are operated by the Seattle Fire Department, have tested one in four Seattle residents, as explained by the Seattle Times.

In December, several SFD staff members were chosen for a 2020 Seattle Management Association Excellence in Leadership award in the category of Planning and Project Management for their work on the COVID-19 community test sites. Congratulations to Dr. Michael Sayre, Acting Capt. Brian Wallace, Sarah Smith, Firefighter/Paramedic Becky Matthews, Dori Towler, Deputy Chief Chris Dahline, Capt. Pete Ubaldi, Lt. Morlon Malveaux and Lt. Matt Anderson for being recognized for their leadership during this pandemic.

Also last month, Seattle City Council signed a proclamation to honor the frontline workers who have made us all safer through citywide testing. The proclamation recognized the “bravery, creativity and abilities of the Seattle Fire Department, and a collective group of individuals who were able to come together to create a national model for community testing, which has been replicated across the State of Washington.” A job well done to all involved in this effort to serve Seattle residents!

Paramedic Alan Goto becomes first fire department member in King County to receive COVID-19 vaccine

On Dec. 15, Firefighter/Paramedic Alan Goto – a 22-year veteran of the Seattle Fire Department – became the first firefighter in King County to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. He received the first shot of the FDA-authorized Pfizer vaccine alongside several other healthcare workers at the UW Medical Center in north Seattle.

“As public servants who have chosen to dedicate ourselves to protecting our community, getting vaccinated is the most relevant thing we can do in this moment to fulfill our commitment to serving the public,” said paramedic Alan Goto.

In addition to workers and residents of long-term care facilities, health care workers, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics are among the first vaccinated due to their position of treating potential COVID-19 positive patients. Read more about Alan’s commitment to serving others during this pandemic on Fireline.

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: Jan. 1: Closed Jan. 18: Open normal hours Feb. 15: Open normal hours

Being safe with outdoor heaters and fire pits

As the pandemic continues into winter, more people are finding ways to socialize safely outside and seeking ways to stay warm while doing so. Outdoor fire pits, outdoor gas and electric portable heaters are being used in greater numbers. In addition to taking Covid-19 precautions, consider the potential risks associated with outdoor heating sources. Outdoor Propane and Electric heaters  How to be safe: Make sure to read and follow the manufacturer instructions prior to using an outdoor heater Place heaters in a location where they cannot be easily overturned Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from the heater Turn off portable heaters when the area in which they are used is not occupied Electric heaters should be used only where they can be plugged directly into the appropriate receptacles or extension cords of adequate current capacity Propane gas heaters need proper ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide build up

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.

Fire Pits

Before deciding to light an outdoor fire in a fire pit, follow these safety tips to reduce the chance of an unintentional fire or injury.

• Ensure the outdoor fire is not more than three feet in diameter and two feet in height.
• Keep fire pits at least five feet from your home, vegetation or anything that can burn.
• Portable fire pits should be set up on a non-combustible surface such as patio blocks or concrete. Do not set them up on a wood deck or on grass.
• Keep a three-foot child and pet safety zone around your fire pit.
• Burn only clean, dry wood.
• Have fire extinguishing equipment readily available for use. This should include a shovel and two buckets of water, or a charged garden hose or fire extinguisher with a 4-A rating.
• Ensure the fire is continually attended by an adult until it is completely extinguished.
• Do not conduct fires on public property where fires are prohibited, such as in a park or on school grounds.

Outdoor heating safety for businesses

The King County Fire Chiefs Association published a short video addressing outdoor heating safety in regards to tents and other outdoor structures. Click here to watch the video.

Here are additional resources from the National Fire Protection Association.