Message from the Fire Chief

I can hardly believe it’s been a year. About one year ago, Public Health Seattle & King County identified the first case and death of COVID-19 in King County. As we all can recollect, cases then began to surge across the region and state, and an effort to flatten the curve was implemented. As we enter year two of the pandemic, I am so proud of the critical work our department has been involved with thus far to help battle COVID-19 in our City, and want to look back at several milestones we have helped the City accomplish.

In March of 2020, Seattle became the first in the nation to implement a testing site for first responders, conducted by first responders. Shortly after in April, we took the step of testing our population who was seeing outbreaks and suffering the worst consequences from COVID-19: those living in or working at long-term care facilities and adult homes. The fire department created Mobile Assessment Teams to allow EMTs and paramedics to go into these facilities to test patients and staff, and to help identify COVID-19 clusters and stop outbreaks.

Then, once more test kits became available and with public health guidance, the City transitioned to opening four community testing sites to conduct widespread testing on the public through a partnership with UW lab. To date, we have conducted more than 650,000 COVID-19 tests at the City’s four community test sites located in SODO, Rainier Beach, West Seattle and North Seattle.

And flash forward to January 9, we were the first fire and EMS agency in the state to be approved as a vaccine administrator. Over the past two months, we have deployed our mobile vaccination teams to adult family homes, congregate living facilities and to pop-up clinics to vaccinate 10,000 of our most vulnerable Seattleites. As of March 1, we have also transitioned two of our community testing sites (Rainier Beach and West Seattle) to also be vaccination clinics. Because supply remains limited, registration for both vaccination clinics will be referral-only, with no public registration option available. 

This past year has shown us how resilient we are as a department and community, and that together we can get through anything. Through widespread vaccinations and continuing to follow health guidance of mask wearing, I truly believe we can end this … and we can save lives.

Stay safe and healthy,

Harold D. Scoggins, Fire Chief

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” - Nelson Mandela

City of Seattle standby list for COVID-19 vaccinations

At the end of each day, the Seattle Fire Department mobile vaccination teams may have 2-3 doses of the vaccine that they must use immediately. To make sure the City uses all our available doses, we’ve created a “standby” subscriber list.

Residents who are 65 and older, live in ZIP codes most impacted by COVID-19, and have NOT yet received their first dose of the vaccine are eligible to sign up for the standby list. You also must be able to meet the Seattle Fire team quickly.

Sign-up for standby list: http://bit.ly/VaxStandby.

The standby list SHOULD NOT be an individual’s only plan for getting vaccinated, and you SHOULD NOT expect to be notified every single day. For more information on how and where to get vaccinated, visit seattle.gov/vaccine.

After receiving additional doses of the Moderna vaccine from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), the City of Seattle is expanding the citywide mobile vaccination strategy and opening new, fixed vaccination sites across the City.

Beginning on March 1, the Seattle Fire Department is operating two new permanent community testing and vaccination clinics. The clinics are located at the current COVID-19 testing facilities in Rainier Beach and West Seattle. With initial doses, each site will administer approximately 1,000 first doses each week, operating six days per week. At full capacity, each SFD site could administer 1,000 first doses each day.

Because supply remains limited, registration for both vaccination clinics will be referral-only, with no public registration option available. Due to limited supply, walk-ins cannot be accommodated. Vaccination rates of people 75 and older in West Seattle and Rainier Beach continue to lag behind the rest of King County. Less than half of people ages 75 or older have been vaccinated in these ZIP codes. The disparities are especially pronounced for BIPOC communities.

The City’s Aging & Disability Services division, Department of Neighborhoods and Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs have been partnering with over 50 community-based and faith-based organizations primarily serving Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, older adults, and immigrants and refugees to register people for the clinics. During its initial pilot period last week, 83 percent of those who registered for the Rainier Beach clinic identified as BIPOC; 40 percent of those who registered for the West Seattle clinic identified as BIPOC.

COVID-19 testing will continue to be available at both the Rainier Beach and West Seattle sites. Testing and vaccination lines are safely socially distanced and at least six feet apart, and all SFD personnel wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

For more information about other expansion efforts in Seattle, visit the City’s vaccination website at www.seattle.gov/vaccine. The site contains vaccination information in seven languages, and in-language assistance is also available over the phone.

Even as more residents get vaccinated, public health measures like social distancing, wearing a mask and washing your hands remain critical. Please continue to follow all public health guidance, and visit this website from Public Health – Seattle & King County for more information.

In Feb., Seattle Fire responded to two home fires that involved overloaded power sources and caused significant property damage. Overloaded outlets and the misuse of extension cords are common electrical issues that can cause a home fire.

Extension cords are designed to provide a temporary power source and should be unplugged when not in use. When shopping for an extension device, look for a power strip or surge protector with an internal circuit breaker that will trip the breaker when overloaded.