Seattle Responder — May 2023 Edition

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 05/02/2023 06:22 PM PDT

Fallen Firefighter Memorial Being Held on May 5 at Occidental Park

The Seattle Fire Department will remember and honor its fallen at their annual memorial service. Service will be held in person on Friday, May 5 from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. in Occidental Park. A livestream of the memorial will also be available on the department's Facebook Page.

Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Occidental Square

Significant Incidents Recap

Ladder 11 on scene for a fire at the 2200 block of Alki Avenue Southwest.

April 12: Residential building fire in Alki Beach

At 10:34 p.m., the Seattle Fire Department’s Fire Alarm Center received 911 calls reporting smoke coming from an apartment building at the 2200 block of Alki Ave. SW. Ladder 11 was the first unit on scene and found smoke coming from a basement unit. As firefighters made their way to the fire room, they found the resident, a 27-year-old male, in the hallway. He was able to safely evacuate out of the building where paramedics provided medical care. He was in stable condition, but declined transportation to a hospital.

Firefighters responding to a fire at the Lake City Community Center

Photo by John Odegard

April 18: Fire in Lake City Community Center

At 2:49 a.m., the Seattle Fire Department’s Fire Alarm Center received 911 calls reporting what appeared to be tree on fire that extended to the Lake City Community Center at the 12500 block of 28th Ave. NE. Engine 39 arrived in less than three minutes from the initial 911 calls and confirmed an exterior fire at an entrance facing 27th Ave. NE. Crews worked quickly to knock down the exterior portion of the fire, then confirmed flames extended inside the building.

Firefighters knocking down a fire in a vacant residence

April 19: Vacant building fire in Columbia City neighborhood

Just before midnight, Seattle firefighters responded to a vacant building fire at the 3900 block of Morse Ave. S. Flames broke through the windows and roof of the two-story home, but crews were able to quickly knock down the fire. No injuries were reported. Investigators ruled the fire as undetermined.

Fatal fire in a vacant commercial building at the 3500 block of Rainier Avenue South

April 20: Fatal vacant building 2-alarm fire in Mount Baker

This morning at 8:52 a.m., the Seattle Fire Department’s Fire Alarm Center received 911 calls reporting smoke and flames coming from a vacant commercial building at the 3500 block of Rainier Ave. S. The first units on scene confirmed an active fire with smoke and flames coming out the windows of the building.

Seattle Fire in the community

Huge Turnout for Fire Safety Fair at Station 37

Families gathering at the Fire Safety Fair at Station 37

Kids at the arts and crafts table for the Fire Safety Fair at Station 37

The first Fire Safety Fair of the year was held on April 1 in Southwest Seattle at Station 37. Hundreds of families showed up to show their support. Kids were able to take a look inside Engine 37 and Ladder 13, listen to a story from our Fire Chief, get hands-on CPR training and learn more about fire safety.

Special thanks to the crews at Fire Station 37 for hosting such a fun event.

Meet and greet at Yesler Terrace

Group photo of firefighters from Engine 10 and children at Yesler Terrace

Crews from Engine 10 and our public education team had a blast visiting residents at Yesler Terrace. Kids of all ages came out to meet our crew, check out the engine, take all the selfies and imagine a future in firefighting! We may even have some aspiring drivers!
Thank you to our amazing community for making a sunny day even more special.

Live Fire in North Bend

Last month, Recruit Class 118 worked on live-fire evolutions and learned how to use an extinguisher at the Fire Training Academy in North Bend. Next week, the recruits will undergo live-fire training in Capitol Hill before they are sent out to Ops on May 19.

Recruits from Class 118 extinguishing a car fire at the Fire Training Academy in North Bend

Marine FF and Damage Control Class

SFD hosted a Marine FF and Damage Control Class on April 3 & 4. There were students from Vancouver Fire, Bellevue Fire, South King County Fire, Seattle Fire, the US Navy and the Puget Sound Naval shipyard.

Firefighters participating at the Marine firefighter and damage control class

Air 26 Moves In

April 8 was the move-in date for the in Air 26 at Station 26. The Air rig is often dispatched to significant fire to provide replacement bottles for firefighters on scene.

Firefighters push the new Air 26 apparatus into the station garage

Keeping you safe

May Safety Message: Outdoor Grilling Safety

Spring weather has finally arrived. This is the time of year when more outdoor grills are cleaned up and put to use. Whether using a grill on an apartment rooftop or in your backyard, consider these fire prevention and safety tips before lighting the grill. Most grill fires are preventable.

Setting up:

Barbecue grills are designed for outdoor use only. Never barbecue in an enclosed area – dangerous carbon monoxide (CO) can accumulate and be deadly. If you suspect CO poisoning, call 9-1-1.
Set-up your grill on a flat surface in an open area at least three feet away from buildings, overhead combustible surfaces, dry leaves and brush.
Make sure the grease trap is empty and clean and that grilling parts are firmly in place.
For propane grills, make sure the hose connection is tight and check the hoses for leaks. This is especially important when using the grill for the first time in a long time.

During use:

Never leave grills unattended while cooking.
Keep a three-foot zone around the grill where children and pets aren’t allowed.
Do not leave starter fluid, lighters or matches within the reach of children.
Use the proper tools. Long handled barbecue utensils and flame retardant mitts will prevent burns from heat and flame.
For charcoal grills, avoid adding lighter fluid after the coals are lit.

Cleaning up:

For propane grills, turn the grill and fuel cylinder off immediately after grilling.
For charcoal grills, allow coals to cool for 48 hours before disposing. If you are not able to wait, douse coals with plenty of water, and stir them to ensure that the fire is out. Never place coals in plastic, paper or wooden containers; place in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid.

Events and Workshops

King County Diversity and Recruitment Workshop

Registration for the May 6 King County Diversity and Recruitment Workshop will remain open until the morning of the event. The workshop starts at 8 a.m. and is open for everyone age 16+ who wants to learn about the process of becoming a firefighter. Classes include:

The classes covered in this workshop include:
Firefighter written exam preparation
Oral board interview preparation
Wellness and fitness requirements and preparation
Psych and background check expectations and preparation
A day in the life of a firefighter

Medic One 50th Anniversary Dinner

50th Anniversary Dinner for the Medic One program

Medic One’s 50th Anniversary Dinner is back on! The event is on Sat., May 13 at the Seattle Hyatt Regency and pays tribute to the founders, paramedics, physicians, instructors and community members who helped build Medic One into one of the world’s leading pre-hospital emergency medical systems.

Mayor Harrell Announces Seattle Day of Service

City of Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has announced this year’s One Seattle Day of Service volunteer event will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2023. Every city employee is invited to join thousands of Seattleites – students, employees, parents, neighbors – and roll up their sleeves, come together, and give back.

“The Day of Service will make real on the organizing principle behind our One Seattle vision: we can accomplish more when we work together towards common goals with shared values,” Mayor Harrell said in his recent announcement. “This event brings thousands of residents from every neighborhood together, asking them to roll up their sleeves and give their time and energy back to the city we love and call home. Registration is now open for over 3,000 volunteer shifts at over 110 events throughout Seattle. Even more events will be added as we get closer to May 20th.”

Volunteer activities will include: cleaning and beautification – collecting trash, removing graffiti, repairing, and painting; gardening and restoration – weeding, planting, storm drain protection, and trail repair; and helping neighbors in need – donation organizing, tiny home construction, and more. All volunteer events will follow strict safety protocols and no activities will take place in or around any encampments of people experiencing homelessness. A full list of the events is available on our website, visit the One Seattle Day of Service page to learn more and sign up to volunteer.

UW School of Public Health & SFD fall and fire prevention workshops

These workshops are taught by UW School of Public Health students in collaboration with the Seattle Fire Department and are intended for older adults and their caregivers. Participants will learn strategies and resources to prevent falls and fires at home to remain independent and healthy. Topics include home modification ideas, exercise programs, identifying home fire hazards, importance of smoke/CO alarms and how to respond safely to a home fire.

Upcoming Workshops:
5/2 - Ballard Senior Center
5/9 - Shoreline Library
5/16 - Queen Anne Community Center
5/23 – Shoreline Lake Forest Park Senior Center