Fire causes extensive damage to NE Tacoma home

Incident Date:  11/21/22

Issuing Officer:  Joe Meinecke
Incident Location:  3130 59th Ave NE
Incident Type: House Fire

Narrative:  At 10:26 PM Firefighters from stations 1,2,3,8 and 12 responded to a reported house fire. The first arriving engine company found a fully involved house fire that had vented through the roof of the 970 square foot single story home. Crews took a defensive strategy against the well entrenched blaze, and protected the home nearby exposed to the intense heat and flames. 

The homes two occupants were able to escape safely and there are no injuries to report. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

UPDATE: The cause of the fire was improperly discarded fireplace ashes igniting combustibles resulting in an estimated $165,000 damage to the building and its contents. The fire burned through a portion of the garage that had no dry wall, then raced across the unprotected rafters throughout the entire attic area. The house is considered a total loss. 

Cigarette ignites apartment fire in North End Retirement Community

Incident Date:  11/20/13
Issuing Officer:  Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 6414 N. Park Wy
Incident Type:  Apartment Fire

Narrative:  At 10:34 AM Firefighters from station 1,2,4,9,13,14 and 16 responded to a reported apartment fire in an independent living retirement community.

The first arriving company found fire and smoke showing from the balcony area of a second floor apartment in a large multi-family dwelling unit. Operationally, crews attacked the fire with handlines, while other firefighters organized search and rescue efforts to check multiple apartments on multiple floors to assure that no one was trapped in the fire or in harms way.

The buildings fire protection system assisted with the positive life safety outcome in this incident;  the fire alarms provided early notification to the tenets of the danger, and the sprinkler system activated helping contain the fire to the apartment of origin.

Three people were evaluated by paramedics for injuries and released at the scene.

The cause of the fire was an improperly discarded cigarette igniting combustibles material resulting in an estimated $30,000 damage to the building and its contents.