Seattle Responder: August 2025 Edition

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 08/08/2025 09:01 PM PDT

A message from the Fire Chief

We hope the community enjoyed the annual Seafair events this weekend! Our Seattle firefighter/EMTs and firefighter/paramedics were out supporting the hydroplane races, air show and other water activities to help keep you safe. Rescue swimmers, rescue watercraft and a fireboat were on alert for anything that could have happened on the water; firefighters were in the hydroplane pit to keep watch for any fires; and additional personnel were on bikes, gators and walking around the event vicinity to respond to medical emergencies.

July was a busy month for the SFD. We unfortunately had multiple intentionally set fires occur in the South Seattle area, several of which were in structures. Fortunately, none of these fires have resulted in any injuries. We recognize this is concerning for neighbors and want to reaffirm this is being taken seriously - fire investigators and SPD's Arson and Bomb Squad are working hard behind the scenes. We are committed to keeping the public informed on these fires and are posting updates to the Fire Line blog if any new incidents occur. If you see anything suspicious or someone illegally setting fires, we ask that you call 911 immediately. Additionally, consider taking steps to reduce the chance of a fire occurring at your home or business. Tips on the blog include clearing anything that could catch fire from around the exterior of your home, installing motion-sensor lights and/or cameras and ensuring smoke alarms are working properly.

On Aug. 5, the only lateral class of firefighter/paramedics in the department's history graduated from recruit school. The seven members of Lateral Paramedic Class 1 will either begin training on our medic units or attend the expedited Medic One Paramedic School if they haven't already been through this world-renowned program. Once they complete their full training, they will respond to emergencies requiring Advanced Life Support (cardiac arrest, strokes, major trauma, etc.). The following week on Aug. 13, we will kick-off the first day of recruit school for Recruit Class 123. The new recruits will begin our rigorous 16-week recruit school which challenges members both physically and mentally to ensure they are prepared for the job.

Stay safe,

Harold D. Scoggins, Fire Chief

"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others." — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Significant incidents

Firefighters put water on a funeral home building fire.

Photo by John Odegard

July 30: Funeral home building fire in the 4500 block of Rainier Ave. S.

Firefighters extinguished a fire at a funeral home in the Columbia City neighborhood. No injuries reported. Investigators determined the fire was intentionally set and shared their findings with Seattle Police.

Photo by John Odegard

July 31: 2-alarm residential building fire in the 2300 block of 17th Ave. S.

Crews extinguished a fire in a detached shed that extended to the residence. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is "undetermined" but is noted as suspicious due to no obvious ignition sources found.

In the community

Fire Chief Scoggins promotes members to new ranks

Fire Chief Harold Scoggins held a promotional ceremony on July 23 at Seattle Fire Department Headquarters to promote members to new ranks in the department and to introduce new hires to the department. Congratulations to all as they step into their new leadership roles.

New hires:

Bella Esposito, Mobile Integrated Health

Margaret Weihs, Equal Employment Opportunity Investigator

Professional staff promotion:

Tierra Gouge Garcia, Battalion 3 Administrative Specialist III

Fire Boat Engineer promotions:

Fireboat Engineer Mark Starll

Fireboat Engineer Benjamin Bergstrom

Lieutenant promotions:

Lieutenant Joseph Dempsey

Lieutenant Andrew Brown

Lieutenant Donovan Arndt

Captain promotion:

Captain Colin Orsini

Paramedic Class 51 Graduation

Congratulations to Paramedic Class #51, including the seven from Seattle Fire who graduated. They completed one of the most challenging and prestigious paramedic training programs in the nation.

We applaud their commitment to excellence and providing the highest level of care to all who live, work and recreate in Seattle.

Thank you to the Medic One Foundation and the Medic One Paramedic Training Program at the UW Harborview Medical Center for supporting Seattle Fire and all participating agencies.

Fire Cadet Program for youth and young adults

Do you have youth or young adults in your network who would like an opportunity to explore a career in the fire service? If so, consider sharing information about the Seattle Fire Department’s Cadet Program, which is open to those who are 16-22 years old. Applications are accepted year-round, and we are now accepting applications for the class that begins in March of 2026 (selection will occur in February 2026). There is an initial cost of $95 and $10 per month in membership dues, with financial assistance available.

Keeping you safe

Water safety tips

Seattle Fire Department rescue watercraft

Boats often link up during the summer to enjoy the festivities, which results in people swimming in open water. Remember that Washington waters are often cold enough to cause muscles to not work, even on the hottest summer day. A life jacket is always the best option. It's important to know what to do if you see someone go under in open water and not resurface:

🌊Don’t go in after the person without a life jacket
🌊Throw something like a rope, lifeline, or life jacket to the person in the water
🌊Find a fixed object on the horizon to use as a reference point in case the person goes under water so that you can tell firefighters the person's last known location
🌊Keep track of your location while boating in case 911 is needed. Use a compass (found on many smart phones) and share latitude and longitude coordinates with the dispatcher which will help first responders find the location on the water
🌊Wave at firefighters or police officers when they arrive on scene to get their attention
🌊Provide any info about the person – hair color, what they were wearing, etc.
🌊Don’t interfere with the response, provide the information and then let first responders get to work

Air conditioner safety tips

Temps are rising again this weekend! Let's stay cool while prioritizing safety. Before you turn on your portable and/or window air conditioning units please read these safety tips:

❄️Only plug air conditioner (A/C) power supply cords directly into wall outlet
❄️Never use an extension cord or power strip, which can become overheated and cause a fire hazard
❄️Do not overload circuits by plugging in too many accessories or devices into one outlet
❄️Avoid running the cord from the unit under a rug or through a wall, as this can also cause overheating and put the electrical cord in contact with flammable materials
❄️Make sure the circuit is adequately sized for the electrical load of the A/C unit
❄️ Change your air filter to keep it clean and reduce strain on the unit

Events

Seattle's application period for firefighter/EMT positions opens Oct. 7, 2025

Seattle firefighters must always have a valid driver’s license and be ready to drive a variety of vehicles when needed. Potential applicants should maintain a positive driving record before and during the hiring process. Avoid incurring speeding or traffic violations, make sure you have no unpaid tickets and be careful on the road!

We will open our application window for entry-level firefighter/EMTs on Oct. 7, 2025. Visit SeattleFireJobs.com to sign-up for our interest list to stay updated on hiring updates along the way.

Public Safety Forums

The City of Seattle Mayor’s Office is hosting seven community forums focused on public safety, aligned for each city council district.

Newly-appointed Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes presents the City’s vision of Seattle policing, while Fire Chief Scoggins and CARE Department Chief Amy Barden provide quick updates on key services and programs. The second portion of the forum gives attendees the opportunity to ask city departments questions, such as how do CARE and SFD coordinate on responses to people in crisis and what are we doing to help with the opioid crisis.

The next forums are:

Wednesday, Aug. 13 at the Delridge gym
Thursday, Aug. 21 at the Green Lake gym

With the appointment of Debra Juarez to the vacant Council 5 seat on July 30, a forum date and location will soon be announced for the final one of the summer.

Get certified in CPR and choking intervention

The SFD offers CPR and choking intervention training to Seattle community members. Seattle Fire’s CPR instructor cadre is trained and certified by the Health and Safety Institute to teach hands-only CPR and certification CPR/AED classes. Attend one of our upcoming community classes to receive your certification for only $30. Register online.

From 5-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14 at Meadowbrook Community Center
From 5-7:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 18 at Dakota Place Park
From 9-11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31 at Seattle Fire Dept. Headquarters

The department will also send instructors to facilities to host group classes for organizations. Fill out the online form to make a request for training.