Thursday, December 3, 2009

Holiday Fire Safety

Each year fires occurring during the holiday season injure 2,600 individuals and cause over $930 million dollars in damage nationally. Tacoma Fire Department (TFD) reminds you to remember these simple life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday season.

Candles
- December is the peak month for candle fires.
- Always use candle sticks or non flammable holders.
- Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.

Electric Decorations
- Cords and plugs are the leading type of equipment involved in the ignition of Christmas trees.
- Any string lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or loose bulbs should not be used.
- Always unplug tree lights before leaving home or going to sleep.

Cooking
- Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S..
- When cooking for holiday visitors, remember to keep an eye on the range.
- If you must leave the kitchen while preparing food, set a timer or carry a pot holder to remind you that food is cooking.

Christmas Trees
- Keep your tree away from fireplaces, portable and baseboard heaters.
- Try to keep fresh cut trees as moist as possible by giving them plenty of water each day.
- Dispose of fresh-cut trees before becoming dry to the extent
that needles are falling and the color is fading.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

TFD Media Release - Recovery Operation

Incident Date: 12/2/09
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke 253.255.3260
Incident Type: Body Recovery
Incident Location: 6100 Block of North Levee Rd, Fife WA

Narrative: At 8.32 a.m. Wednesday December 3rd 2009, Tacoma Fire Department (TFD) and Central Pierce Fire and Rescue (CPFR) units responded to a reported body in the water in the Puyallup River.

First arriving units confirmed that there was an unidentified body lodged in a wooden snag area approximately 15 feet from the bank. CPFR Swift Water Rescue Team and the Pierce County Sheriff's Department Dive Team were called to recover the body during this multi-jurisdictional response. Fife Police Department continues as the lead agency for this incident and will release any additional details as they become available.