2014 Tacoma Firefighters Christmas Project

Tacoma Firefighters raise $14,000 to brighten the holidays for 140 local families.

For the past 26 years, Tacoma Firefighters have brought holiday cheer to the lives of thousands of Tacoma children and their families with deliveries of food, clothing and gifts just before Christmas. This year, firefighters have raised over $14,000 dollars to help more than 140 children and families in need.

“It’s always a great honor to help bring a little happiness to those in need during the holidays,” said project co-founder Captain Jim Lee (other co-founders include Lieutenant Andrea Schroeder and Firefighter Ron Ernst). "We are also very grateful for the generous support from active and retired Tacoma Firefighters throughout the past 26 years. Without their commitment to the community and this program, none of this would have been possible" said Lee.

Special deliveries from a fire engine, medic unit and Santa Claus are scheduled for Dec. 20 and Dec. 22. This year’s recipients were identified through the Tacoma School District Head Start Program, YWCA Women’s Shelter, and the Sharing House.

For additional information regarding this event, contact Captain Jim Lee at (253) 381-0851.

Requests for Service - November 2014

TFD Incidents by Initial Dispatch Type

TFD - Incidents	November	2014 (YTD)	2013 (YTD)
Fire	80	1,328	1,352
Emergency Medical	2,730	31,575	29,535
All Other (e.g. hazardous conditions, search and rescue, automatic fire alarms)	589	5,264	4,941
Total	3,399	38,167	35,828

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Training burn on 70th Avenue East

On Wednesday, December 03, 2014, Tacoma Fire Department conducted a training burn at 3007 70^th Avenue East, Fife.

Live fire training in a controlled environment is a valuable tool to develop firefighting skills. Over 20 firefighters and staff participated in a variety of drills throughout the day. Training objectives included interior fire attack, hose handling, observing fire behavior, and deploying a Rapid Intervention Crew to rescue trapped firefighters.

TFD’s training center staff coordinated the regulatory aspects of the burn and there were no injuries to report. 

  

"Tried & True" recipe for a safe Thanksgiving - 2014!

According to the United States Fire Administration, Thanksgiving is the leading day for home cooking fires!

Tacoma Fire Department encourages everyone to follow this "tried and true" recipe for a safe holiday.

When it comes to cooking:

• Keep a close watch on your cooking. Never leave cooking food unattended.
• Keep oven food packaging and combustibles away from burners and heat sources.
• Heat cooking oil slowly and watch it closely; it can ignite quickly.
• Have a "kid-free zone" of at least three-feet around the stove.
• Keep a lid nearby to smother small grease fires.
• Make sure you have a working smoke alarms.

Requests for Service - October 2014

TFD Incidents by Initial Dispatch Type

TFD - Incidents	October	2014 (YTD)	2013 (YTD)
Fire	73	1,248	1,261
Emergency Medical	3,092	28,845	26,912
All Other (e.g. hazardous conditions, search and rescue, automatic fire alarms)	515	4,675	4,517
Total	3,680	34,768	32,690

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Fire rips through 4-plex on South "M" Street

Incident Date:  11/14/14
Issuing Officer:  Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 4109 S. “M” St.
Incident Type:  Apartment Fire

Narrative: At 3:30 am firefighters from stations 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, and 11 responded to a reported apartment fire.

The first arriving company found heavy flames showing from the front of the three-story approximately 4,900 square foot four-plex. Crews mounted an aggressive interior attack with handlines and searched the building to confirm that no one was trapped inside. As the threat of a possible roof collapse mounted, the Incident Commander transitioned to a defensive strategy, deploying an overhead master stream to extinguish the well-entrenched fire on the top floor and roof.

All occupants were able to escape without harm and the Red Cross was requested to provide relocation assistance to the five adults and three children displaced in the blaze.

The cause of the fire appears accidental and may have been caused by an improperly discarded cigarette. The area of origin was the second floor porch. The building is likely a total loss.

MVA at S. 12th & S. Union Ave

Incident Date: 10/31/14
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: S. 12th St. and S. Union Ave.
Incident Type: MVA

Narrative:  At 6:02 pm firefighters responded to a reported motor vehicle accident at the intersection of S. 12th and S. Union Ave.

The first arriving crews found a multiple car accident with one vehicle into a power pole. The incident commander upgraded the call to a mass casualty incident bringing additional resources to the scene.

Operationally, crews isolated the scene to protect people from the damaged power pole and lines and assessed and transported six patients from the scene with non-life threatening injuries.

 

 

Fall back on sound advice - time to change your clock and check your smoke alarm batteries!

Tacoma Fire Department urges you to check your smoke alarm batteries when you set your clocks back for Daylight Savings time this weekend.

Smoke alarms most often fail because of missing, dead or disconnected batteries, so maintenance is a simple and effective way to protect your family and reduce home fire deaths.

For best protection, it is recommended that you install alarms utilizing both ionization and photoelectric technology and that have long life 10 year lithium ion batteries.

Visit the United States Fire Administration and National Fire Protection Association for additional information regarding smoke alarm types, installation, maintenance and safety.

Requests for Service - September 2014

TFD Incidents by Initial Dispatch Type

TFD - Incidents	September	2014 (YTD)	2013 (YTD)
Fire	127	1,175	1,191
Emergency Medical	2,827	25,753	24,166
All Other (e.g. hazardous conditions, search and rescue, automatic fire alarms)	469	4,160	4,059
Total	3,423	31,088	29,416

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Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill - October 16, 2014

Since earthquakes may happen anywhere you work, live, or travel, Tacoma Fire Department stresses the importance of being prepared and practicing how to protect yourself during a quake.

At 10:16 a.m. on October 16, 2014, millions across the country will practice the survival skill of “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.”

The goal of the drill is to prevent a major earthquake from becoming a catastrophe for you, your organization, and your community. Why is this drill important? As with anything, to act quickly you must practice often. You may only have seconds to protect yourself in an earthquake before strong shaking knocks you down, or something falls on you.

Best of all - everyone can participate!

CPR Sunday 2014 - thanks for attending!

Thanks to the 741 citizens who learned the life saving skills of CPR this weekend at CPR Sunday! We appreciate your commitment to helping make our community safer. If you were unable to attend but would still like to learn CPR, we also offer two standing classes a month. Visit our CPR webpage for additional class times and locations.

Have you registered yet? CPR Sunday almost here!

CPR Sunday is an annual community event offered free-of-charge to anyone interested in learning the basic life-saving skills of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). On the second Sunday in October each year, participants are taught the fundamentals of CPR and then given the opportunity to practice with CPR manikins and Automated External Defibrillators (AED). 

CPR Sunday will be held Oct. 12, at Foss High School, 2112 S. Tyler St. in Tacoma.

In order to secure your preferred class time please pre-register at http://www.cprsunday.net/registration.php.

What Attendees Can Expect

• More than 50 certified Basic Life Support instructors
• 1 1/2 hours of classroom training and 1 hour of hands on training
• Four class options: 8 AM, 10 AM, 12 PM, or 2 PM
• Practical training with CPR manikins and AED's.

What Attendees Will Learn

• What happens when you call 9-1-1
• Patient assessment
• One rescuer adult/child/infant CPR and obstructed airway
• Automated external defibrillator use
• Foreign body airway obstruction management
• Essentials of a home first aid kit
• CPR-related information/reminder list for home and wallet

Note - this class is "Citizen Level CPR" and does not meet the Washington State Health Care Provider Level card requirements.

Fatality fire on North "I" Street

Incident Date:  9/30/14
Issuing Officer:  Joe Meinecke
Incident Location:  323 N “I” Street
Incident Type:  Apartment Fire

Narrative:  At 10:52 am firefighters responded to a report fire alarm, and when the first arriving company found smoke showing from the four-story apartment the incident was quickly upgraded to a full commercial fire response. 

Operationally, firefighters located the fire that had started in a bottom level unit, determined that the fire sprinkler system had contained the fire, and upon primary search of the apartment found one deceased occupant.

Crews then evacuated over 30 residents from the senior living apartment building due to dangerous smoke conditions.

There we no other injuries to report. 

Fire investigators determined that the fire was most likely caused by smoking materials igniting the fabric and foam padding of a chair.  

The identity of the deceased person, as well as the precise cause, time, manner of their death will be determined by the Pierce County Medical Examiner's office.   

  

Requests for Service - August 2014

TFD Incidents by Initial Dispatch Type

TFD - Incidents	August	2014 (YTD)	2013 (YTD)
Fire	185	1,048	1,107
Emergency Medical	2,938	22,926	21,314
All Other (e.g. hazardous conditions, search and rescue, automatic fire alarms)	519	3,681	3,583
Total	3,642	27,665	26,004

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World Trade Center steel dedication at TFD's 9-1-1 remembrance ceremony 2014

We are grateful to those who joined us in honoring the heroes and victims of 9/11 at our Remembrance Ceremony today.

A special thanks to retired Lt. James Joyce of FDNY for joining us for the dedication of a piece of World Trade Center Steel at our Tacoma Firefighters Memorial. Thank you for helping us we keep our nation’s solemn vow to "never forget" the sacrifices made.

National Preparedness Month - September 2014

The City of Tacoma Emergency Management Division encourages everyone to participate in National Preparedness Month (NPM). NPM focuses attention on what citizens should do to ready themselves, their families and their communities for potential disasters. This year's theme is "Take Action to Prepare."     

According to Ready.Gov, the U.S. government’s official preparedness website, there are three key steps for each citizen to become prepared for an emergency:

1. Build A Kit:  Keep enough emergency supplies on hand for you and those in your care. For example, water, non-perishable food, first aid, prescriptions, flashlight, and a battery-powered radio.
2. Make A Plan:  Discuss, agree on, and document an emergency plan with those in your care. Work together with neighbors, colleagues and others to build community resilience.
3. Be Informed:  Free information is available to assist you from federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial resources.

Want to get involved?
Consider enrolling in a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to learn about how to prepare and respond to a disaster in our community.

Suspicious fire causes heavy damage to office building on East 44th St.

Incident Date:  9/3/14
Issuing Officer:  Joe Meinecke
Incident Location:  1421 E. 44th St
Incident Type:  Commercial Structure Fire

Narrative:  At 7:01 am, firefighters from stations 1, 2, 8, 10 ,11, 12, and 15 responded to a reported commercial structure fire. 

The first arriving company found heavy smoke and flames showing from a single story office building of a rental storage business. Crews attacked the fire with handlines and searched the building to confirm no one was trapped inside.

There were no injuries to report. The fire resulted in an estimated $62,500 damage to the building and it's contents. 

The cause of the fire was determined to be intentionally set, and the incident has been referred to the Tacoma Police Department for further investigation.

Save the date - TFD hosts remembrance and World Trade Center Steel dedication on Sept 11, 2014

On Thursday September 11, 2014, the Tacoma Fire Department will honor the heroes and victims of 9/11 at a public remembrance ceremony beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Firefighter’s Memorial, 3301 Ruston Way. This year marks the 13th anniversary of this tragic event. 

The program will include speeches by Mayor Marilyn Strickland, Tacoma Fire Chief James P. Duggan and retired Lieutenant James Joyce of FDNY. There will also be a dedication of a piece of World Trade Center Steel.  

Please join us as the nation keeps its solemn vow that “we have not forgotten.” 

Electrical failure sparks early morning fire on S. Ferdinand Dr.

Incident Date:  8/19/14
Issuing Officer:  Joe Meinecke
Incident Location:  1456 S. Ferdinand Dr.
Incident Type:  Residential Structure Fire

Narrative:  At 5:51 am, firefighters from stations 2, 4, 9, 13, 16 and 17 responded to a reported house fire.

The first arriving company found heavy smoke and flames showing from the garage and upper floor of the 1/1/2 story 2,154 square foot residence. Crews mounted an aggressive interior attack on the fire that had spread throughout the attached garage, second floor and attic space of the structure.

A working smoke alarm alerted a single-occupant to the fire, allowing them to escape without harm.

Additionally, two pet dogs presented a rescue challenge. One dog was able to escape initially, but a second chihuahua "Chloe," remained missing for several minutes into the blaze. After an extensive search, she was found hiding under a bed and was brought to safety by the crew from Engine #9.

The cause of the fire was failed electrical wiring, resulting in an estimated $155,000 damage to the building and its contents. An additional $3,000 damage occurred to the home next door.

 

 

Multi-agency demonstration of AirTEP deployment

The Tacoma Fire Department, Seattle Fire Department and King County Sheriff’s Office conducted a joint training demonstration along the Thea Foss Waterway today.

In conjunction with the Marine Security West 2014 Conference in Tacoma, the King County Sheriff Office’s Guardian 2 helicopter demonstrated an Airborne Tactical Extraction Platform (AirTEP) deployment by inserting a Seattle Fire Department rescue swim team into a simulated water rescue scenario.

Spotlight on TFD training - vehicle extrication.

The most frequent type of incident TFD’s technical rescue team responds to is vehicle extrication. Firefighters from “D” shift spent the morning training with the tools and techniques needed to conduct these critical operations.

“Safely and rapidly removing occupants trapped in vehicles is the goal in these high-risk situations,” said instructor Captain Todd Magliocca. “This is especially true when the occupants have been significantly injured and are in need of immediate medical attention.” 

All TFD ladder companies carry extrication tools, in addition to the Department’s cross-staffed Technical Rescue unit.     

Requests for Service - July 2014

TFD Incidents by Initial Dispatch Type

TFD - Incidents	July	2014 (YTD)	2013 (YTD)
Fire	288	863	930
Emergency Medical	2,948	19,988	18,462
All Other (e.g. hazardous conditions, search and rescue, automatic fire alarms)	524	3,172	3,081
Total	3,760	24,023	22,473

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Registration is now open for CPR Sunday 2014

CPR Sunday is an annual community event offered free-of-charge to anyone interested in learning the basic life-saving skills of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). On the second Sunday in October each year, participants are taught the fundamentals of CPR and then given the opportunity to practice with CPR manikins and Automated External Defibrillators (AED). 

CPR Sunday will be held Oct. 12, at Foss High School, 2112 S. Tyler St. in Tacoma.

In order to secure your preferred class time please pre-register at http://www.cprsunday.net/registration.php.

What Attendees Can Expect

• More than 50 certified Basic Life Support instructors
• 1 1/2 hours of classroom training and 1 hour of hands on training
• Four class options: 8 AM, 10 AM, 12 PM, or 2 PM
• Practical training with CPR manikins and AED's.

What Attendees Will Learn

• What happens when you call 9-1-1
• Patient assessment
• One rescuer adult/child/infant CPR and obstructed airway
• Automated external defibrillator use
• Foreign body airway obstruction management
• Essentials of a home first aid kit
• CPR-related information/reminder list for home and wallet

Note - this class is "Citizen Level CPR" and does not meet the Washington State Health Care Provider Level card requirements.

Tacoma Fire Department to bolster fire prevention efforts with FM Global Grant

TACOMA, Wash.—The Tacoma Fire Department has received a $3,300 fire prevention grant from FM Global, one of the world’s largest commercial property insurers.

FM Global representatives presented the award to Assistant Chief Roger Edington and Fire and Life Safety Educator Marja Stowell at TFD Station #1 located at 901 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, Washington. The award will be used to assist with fire prevention activities in the community to help educate the community and reduce the number of fires.

Because fire continues to be the leading cause of property damage worldwide, during the past 35 years FM Global has contributed millions of dollars in fire prevention grants to fire service organizations around the globe. Locally, the company has awarded grants to a number of Washington-based organizations.

 “At FM Global, we strongly believe the majority of property damage is preventable, not inevitable,” said Michael Spaziani, manager of the fire prevention grant program. “Far too often, inadequate budgets prevent those organizations working to prevent fire from being as proactive as they would like to be. With additional financial support, grant recipients are actively helping to improve property risk in the communities they serve.”

Through its Fire Prevention Grant Program, FM Global awards grants quarterly to fire departments—as well as national, state, regional, local and community organizations worldwide—that best demonstrate a need for funding, where dollars can have the most demonstrable impact on preventing fire, or mitigating the damage it can quickly cause.

To learn more about FM Global’s Fire Prevention Grant Program, or to apply for a grant, please visit www.fmglobal.com/grants.

For more than 175 years, many of the world’s largest organizations have turned to FM Global to develop cost-effective property insurance and engineering solutions to protect their business operations from fire, natural disasters and other types of property risk. With clients in more than 130 countries, FM Global ranks #541 among FORTUNE magazine’s largest companies in America and is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best and AA (Very Strong) by Fitch Ratings. The company has been named “Best Property Insurer in the World” by Euromoney magazine, “Best Global Property Insurer” by Global Finance magazine and was voted “Best Commercial Property Insurer” in Business Insurance’s 2010 annual Readers Choice Awards.

National Night Out 2014

Tacoma Fire Department was honored to be invited to over 50 neighborhood get-together's as a part of the 31st Annual National Night Out. “America’s Night Out Against Crime,” is designed to offer neighbors an opportunity to enjoy each other’s company while building bonds useful in preventing crime and improving safety in their neighborhoods. We were grateful to meet so many of you committed to making our community a safer place to live!