Arson Awareness Week May 2-8

The theme for this years National Arson Awareness Week (May 2-8), is Community Arson Prevention.  The Tacoma Fire Department would like to remind everyone to take the following precautions to help prevent the crime of Arson.  

• Keep leaves, firewood, overgrown brush and shrubbery, and other combustibles away from buildings.
• Keep doors and windows locked when a building is unoccupied.
• Store all flammable liquids such as paints, gasoline, and aerosols in an approved storage location.
• Also, keep flammable liquids away from heat sources such as furnaces and other types of heaters.
• Report suspicious activity near houses or other buildings and support Neighborhood Watch programs.
• Keep matches and lighters out of the reach and sight of young children.
• If you know or suspect that arson was committed, dial 911.

For additional information regarding this years efforts visit the United States Fire Administration.

Commercial Structure Fire

Incident Date: 4/24/2010
Issuing Officer: Tory Green
Incident Location: 4703 Pacific Highway E, Fife
Incident Type: Commercial Structure Fire

Narrative: At 11:34 p.m. Saturday April 24, 2010, eleven Tacoma Fire Department companies including 5 engines, 2 ladders, 2 medic companies, and command staff responded to a reported commercial structure fire.

First arriving crews found flames and smoke involving 50% of the single story building. The businesses affected were the Tacoma Occupational Health Clinic and Apple Physical Therapy. Both businesses were closed at the time of the fire.

After an investigation was conducted, it was determined that the fire was caused by arson. The total damage was estimated at approximately $350,000. There were no injuries reported.