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Message from the Fire Chief
Seattle firefighters began the New Year by battling a massive 3-alarm fire in the 800 block of Madison St. in a four-story vacant building that had experienced major fires previously. The fire was well-involved upon arrival and had spread to an attached apartment building, displacing those residents. A couple of weeks later, we set a record during the cold temperatures on Jan. 14, receiving 1,474 emergency calls that resulted in 609 dispatched incidents. Over that weekend, crews responded to six significant fires and more than 265 water jobs. Our Health One crews assisted more than 200 unhoused individuals. To say that 2024 has started off busy would be an understatement.
As we enter the New Year, we want our community to know that we remain committed to providing effective and efficient service for fire and medical related 9-1-1 calls. That’s why on Jan. 30 I joined Mayor Bruce Harrell and Seattle Public Utilities Director Andrew Lee to announce that all batteries are now banned from the garbage. Batteries power our toys, tools, bikes and vehicles, but if not disposed of properly, they can catch fire and put solid waste collection staff, vehicles, facilities and community members at risk. In the last two years alone, SFD has responded to 79 lithium-ion battery fires, often involving e-scooters, e-bikes and portable electronics. Fires involving batteries can start and spread quickly, so properly storing, charging and disposing of batteries becomes key to preventing fires where injuries and property loss could occur. Read more about the battery ban and safe disposal options on our Fire Line Blog.
On April 18, we will celebrate the exemplary work of our employees and heroic actions of community members at our annual awards luncheon. The event will be held at the Embassy Suites in Pioneer Square and is sponsored by the Seattle Fire Foundation. I hope you will save the date and purchase a ticket once registration opens to help support our firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers and professional staff members.
I’ll conclude with an ask of you: in 2024, consider taking a CPR class. The SFD offers hands-only CPR and certification CPR/AED courses at a low donation cost. You never know when you may need to step-in to help save a life – don’t delay learning this critical skill.
Stay safe,
Harold D. Scoggins, Fire Chief
“The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.” — Kobe Bryant
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 Photo by John Odegard
Jan. 1: 3-alarm vacant building fire in the 800 block of Madison St.
Firefighters worked through the early morning to extinguish a fire in a vacant residential building in the First Hill neighborhood. The fire extended to an adjacent two-story apartment building. Displacing eight homes. No injuries were reported. Investigators ruled the cause of the fire was undetermined.
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 Photo in John Odegard
Jan. 12: 2-alarm fire in the 300 block of Occidental Ave. S.
Crews put out a fire in a three-story commercial building in Pioneer Square. An art gallery sustained significant damage. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Investigators ruled the fire was accidental. Likely caused by a warming fire in the alley that extended into the building.
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Cold weather response
 From 4 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 12 through end of day Monday, Jan. 15, the Seattle Fire Department dispatched resources to at least 42 incidents for cold-weather related complaints or injuries. In addition, Health One crews assisted more than 200 unhoused individuals by providing transportation to shelters, warm meals, clothing or utilizing the Medical Ambulance Bus for temporary warming.
That weekend was one of the busiest in Seattle Fire’s history, mostly due to responses for burst water pipes. In the same time period, the department responded to more than 265 water jobs for burst pipes. On Sunday alone (Jan. 14), our Fire Alarm Center received 1,474 calls (including 911 emergency calls and internal administrative calls), resulting in 609 dispatched incidents. For comparison, the average daily number of total calls to the Fire Alarm Center in January 2023 was 641.
Honoring fallen Walla Walla firefighter Ryan Pleasants
 Four members of the Seattle Fire Department Walter Kilgore Memorial Honor Guard traveled to Walla Walla this past weekend to honor fallen Firefighter Ryan Pleasants, who suffered a line of duty death. We continue to keep Ryan's family, friends and the Walla Walla Fire Department close in our thoughts and hearts as they navigate this challenging time.
Fire Chief Scoggins gives keynote at Seattle Colleges' 51st annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Fire Chief Scoggins was honored to give the keynote at the Seattle Colleges’ 51st annual community celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Jan. 12. This inspiring event included musical performances by DaNell Daymon and the Greater Works gospel choir and scholarship and award presentations to South Seattle College students.
Chief Scoggins shared reflections on what Dr. King’s legacy has meant to him, what it was like to be the first Black firefighter hired by Glendale (CA) Fire, and lessons learned from the examples set by other Black firefighters who have been “first” in their career, including retired Seattle Fire Chief Claude Harris.
Chief Harris was the first and only Black firefighter hired by Seattle Fire in 1959, and it took another eight years before any other Black firefighters were hired. Chief Harris persevered despite the overt racism he endured, paving the path for more people of color and women to become firefighters.
Audience members gave Chief Harris, who was there in the audience, a standing ovation.
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Heart attack survivor inspires fellow golfers to learn CPR
In September 2023, Randall Berg suffered a heart attack on the green at the West Seattle Golf Course. Fellow golfers jumped into action, performing CPR until help from Seattle Fire Station 32 arrived. Those precious moments of hands-only CPR gave Randall the best shot of recovery.
On Jan. 20, the West Seattle Golf Course hosted our Medic 2 bystander CPR program. More than 70 people were trained in either hands-only CPR or became certified in adult, child and infant CPR. All of them were inspired by Randall’s story.
February is Heart Month and we encourage everyone to learn CPR. Help spread the word.
Bystanders can schedule CPR training by emailing Medic2@seattle.gov.
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Helping the most vulnerable during freezing weather
 On Jan. 12, Lt. Roger Webber interviewed with local news to inform the community of the Seattle Fire Department's efforts during the freezing temperatures in the middle of Jan. Watch the interview published by Fox 13.
Seattle bans batteries from garbage disposal
 On Jan. 29, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) announced that all batteries from small button cell and alkaline batteries to lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes and electric vehicles, are banned from the garbage. The SPU Directors Rule prohibiting batteries, items with batteries embedded in them, and electronics such as computers, monitors and TVs from being disposed of in the garbage, took effect Jan. 1, 2024. Learn more on the battery ban on the Fire Line Blog or watch the full press event provided by the Seattle Channel.
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