Firefighters Embark On Tribute Ride to New York City

Tacoma, WA: Nearly 40 firefighters from Western Washington joined forces today to embark on a roughly 3,000 mile motorcycle ride in honor of the victims of the September 11th attack. Departing from the Tacoma Firefighters Memorial on Ruston Way, the group is currently making its way along I-90 and will be joining thousands of firefighters from the International Association of Fire Fighters who are riding in solidarity. The group is expected to reach New York City on September 9.

One of several riders from Pierce County, Tacoma firefighter Will Yuste considered this opportunity a "great honor to pay tribute to all who lost their lives that day and to let those left behind know that the extended fire service family has not forgotten”.

National Preparedness Month - September 2011

The City of Tacoma Emergency Management would like to remind everyone that September is National Preparedness Month (NPM).  NPM focuses attention on what citizens should do to ready themselves, their families and their communities for potential disasters.  This years theme is "a time to remember a time to prepare".  You can help remember the tragic events of 9/11 by joining us at our annual  September 11th ceremony and you can get prepared by completing the following.     

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. Get 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.

Like to stay informed?  Sign up for Pierce County emergency alerts to be notified about emergencies and other important community news such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons, and evacuation of buildings or neighborhoods.

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

CPR Sunday Registration Is Open

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, students are taught the fundamentals of CPR and then given the opportunity to practice with CPR manikins and Automated External Defibrillators (AED). Over 900 participants attended this life saving class last year.

CPR Sunday will be held Oct. 9, 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
• Four class options: 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m., or 2 p.m.
• 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.

Save the Date - September 11, 2011

The Tacoma Fire Department Honor Guard invites you to join us for the 10th anniversary “Remembering 9/11” ceremony.  The event begins at 9:30 a.m. Sunday September 11, at the Tacoma Firefighters Memorial at 3301 Ruston Way.

Firefighters will also be accepting donations on behalf of the Pierce County Emergency Food Network at this event.  Please bring non-perishable food items (e.g. peanut butter) to drop off in support of this important community service.

We Have Not Forgotten

National Night Out 2011

Tacoma Fire Department was honored to be invited to 93 neighborhood gatherings throughout our response area for the 28th Annual National Night Out celebration.  The event is designed to promote neighborhood spirit and heighten awareness to crime prevention efforts. Last year, an estimated 37 million people from 15,000 communities participated in the event nationally.  We appreciated meeting those of you committed to making our community safer and such a great place to live.

Rollover Crash E. 40th & E. "G" Street

Incident Date: 8/1/2011
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: E. 40th and E. "G" Street
Incident Type: Motor Vehicle Accident

Narrative: At 8:52 a.m. Tacoma Firefighters were dispatched to a reported two car motor vehicle accident with a rollover.  The first arriving companies to the scene of the collision found a van flipped over and setting on its top.  Paramedics assessed, treated and transported 3 patients from the scene to local area hospitals. 

Early Morning North End House Fire

Incident Date:  7/21/11
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 2203 N. Tacoma Ave
Incident Type: Residential Structure Fire

Narrative:  At 5:11 a.m. seven companies of Tacoma Firefighters (4 engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Medic Company and command staff) responded to a report of a residential house fire.

The first arriving crew found smoke showing from the front of the two story approximately 2,300 square foot house with a basement.  Crews attacked the fire with hand lines, and completed primary search and rescue.  It was determined that no one was home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries to report.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

UPDATE:  The cause of the fire was failed electrical wiring, resulting in an estimated $40,000 damage to the building and it's contents.