Fire Incidents for May 9, 2013

Time:  4:52 a.m. 

Address:  619 54th Ave E

Response:  Station 2,11,12

Damage Estimate:  $887

Narrative:  Firefighters responded to reported washing machine fire. An apparent mechanical malfunction with a belt or motor caused the machine to smoke. Crews confirmed there was no fire, made sure the unit was unplugged and ventilated the smoke.   

Time:  9:16 a.m. 

Address:  2102 E. George St.

Response:  Station 2,8,9,11,12,15,17

Damage Estimate:  $17,000

Narrative:  Firefighters responded to a house fire.  See original post here. 

Time:  4:13 p.m. 

Address:  5433 S. "M" St.

Response:  Station 1,2,7,8,11,12,15 

Damage Estimate:  $1,000

Narrative:  Firefighters responded to a reported commercial structure fire. The first arriving engine company found light smoke and fire on an exterior wall of the building. Crews extinguished the fire that was confined to the wall area and ventilated the smoke. The fire was accidently started by an occupant burning weeds with a propane torch.

Time:  4:27 p.m.

Address:  4910 36th Ave NE

Response:  Station 3

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Firefighters responded for a reported grass fire. The homeowners had extinguished the fire prior to the crews arrival.   

Time:  4:43 p.m.

Address:  705 Dock St.

Response:  Station 1

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Firefighters extinguished a small smoldering bark fire. 

Time:  4:47 p.m.

Address:  5601 S. Orchard St.

Response:  Station 7

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Firefighters extinguished a small camp fire set by 4 juveniles.    

Time:  8:46 p.m.

Address:  504 S. 30th St.

Response:  Station 2

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Firefighters extinguished a brush fire in what appeared to be a homeless encampment. 

Mechanical malfunction in a dryer sparks house fire

Incident Date:  5/9/13
Issuing Officer:  BC Jim Zuluaga
Incident Location: 2102 E. George St.
Incident Type: Residential House Fire

Narrative:  At 9:16 a.m. firefighters from stations 2,8,9,11,12,15, and CPFR 6-3 responded to a reported dryer fire.

The first arriving engine company reported dark smoke and flames showing from the back of the house.  Crews attacked the fire that had spread throughout the laundry room, searched to confirm no one was inside the structure and ventilated the smoke.

All occupants were able to escape safely and there were no injuries to report.

The cause of the fire was an mechanical malfunction of a clothes dryer, resulting in an estimated $17,000 damage to the building and its contents.  

Fire Incidents for May 8, 2013

Time:  11:33 a.m. 
Address:  4001 S. Pine St

Response:  Station 8

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Firefighters responded to a prohibited outdoor burn.

Time:  10:32 p.m. 
Address:  3806 E. Howe St
Response:  Station 11
Damage Estimate:  none
Narrative:  Firefighters responded to a prohibited outdoor burn. 

Time:  9:13 p.m. 
Address:  1601 S. Union Ave
Response:  Station 1,2,4,9,16,17
Damage Estimate:  none
Narrative:  Firefighters responded to a pull station alarm at a residential high rise building. Upon investigation they determined a unattended pan of food left on a stove caused smoke to fill part of the 7th floor. Crews confirmed there was no fire extension, ventilated the smoke and reset the alarm system. 

May 8th is National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day

May 8, 2013 is National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Tacoma Fire Department encourages animal owners to include plans and provisions for your pets, horses and livestock in the event of a disaster.

Plan for pet needs during a disaster by:

• Creating a pet survival kit with enough food and water for each animal to last at several days. Also include medications, cat litter/pan, a can opener, and food dish.
• Make sure identification tags are up-to-date and securely fastened to your pet’s collar. 
• Make sure you have a secure pet carrier, leash or harness for your pet. 
• For public health reasons, many emergency shelters cannot accept pets. Explore alternatives and find out if any hotels/motels in your area allow pets.

For more detailed information about pet, large animal and livestock preparedness visit ready.gov/caring-animals.

Fire Incidents for May 7, 2013

Time:  2:45 a.m. 
Address:  705 S. 9th St. 

Response:  Station 1

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Firefighters responded to a small bush fire. 

Time:  6:30 p.m. 
Address:  S. 17th St/Pacific Ave 

Response:  Station 2,7

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Firefighters responded to a garbage can fire at a bus stop. 

Time:  9:15 p.m. 
Address:  1040 S. Monroe St 

Response:  Station 9
Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Firefighters responded to a prohibited outdoor burn of scrap lumber.

Fire Incidents for May 6, 2013

Time:  6:33 p.m. 
Address:  4002 Tacoma Mall Blvd

Response:  Station 8

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Firefighters extinguished a smoldering bark mulch fire. 

Time:  6:48 p.m. 
Address:  1201 Pacific Ave

Response:  Station 1

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Firefighters extinguished a smoldering bark fire in planter area.

Time:  7:12 p.m. 
Address:  3702 Marine View Dr. 

Response:  Station 3,12,14

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Crews responded to a reported boat fire. The small fire was extinguished by the occupants prior to our arrival.

Time:  10:48 p.m. 
Address:  3520 Pacific Hwy E

Response:  Station 12

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Firefighters extinguished a fire in a two foot plastic planter pot.  The fire appeared to be started by improperly discarded cigarettes. 


   

Spotlight on Boating Safety

With abundant sunshine and the opening day of boating season this past weekend, the Tacoma Fire Department would like to remind all boaters of measures they can take to ensure a safe boating season.

Obtain a Washington State Boater Education Card. 
Who needs the card?  All boaters 50 years of age and under operating a boat or personal watercraft of 15 hp or greater.

Wear a lifejacket! 
The U.S. Coast guard reports that in 2011, 533 of the 758 boating fatalities resulted from drowning, with 84 percent of the drowning victims not reported as wearing a life jacket. According to the Boating in Washington Handbook, children 12 years old and younger must wear a USCG-approved life jacket at all times when underway in a vessel less than 19 feet in length, unless in a fully enclosed area.

Designate a sober driver.BUI (boating under the influence). It shall be a violation for a person to operate a vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug. RCW 79A.60.040.

According to the U.S. Coast guard, operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive  speed and alcohol are the top five contributing factors for boating accidents.

Arson Awareness Week May 5-11, 2013

May 5-11, 2013 is National Arson Awareness Week, and this year’s theme is "reducing residential arson".

To reduce the risk of Arson in your neighborhood:

• Clean around your house
• Trim or remove shrubbery that may block the view of your house from the street
• Remove unused and unneeded paper, trash, cleaning supplies and other materials that could be used as fuel for a fire
• Install lights that cover all sides of your house
• Install a burglar and fire alarm system in your home
• Keep doors and windows locked
• Make sure your smoke alarms are in proper working condition

To report a fire call 9-1-1.  In a non-emergency situation, when you know or suspect that an arson crime has been committed, or to report suspicious activity, call (253) 591-5740.

Visit the U.S. Fire Administration for additional information.

Fire Incidents for May 3-5, 2013

Date:  5/03/13
Time:  12:51 p.m. 
Address:  1821 Dock St

Response:  Station 1,2,8,13

Damage Estimate:  $12,500

Narrative:  Fire sprinklers credited with extinguishing a fire. Crews responded to a automatic alarm in a mixed occupancy building. Upon investigation they determined a fire had started on a kitchen table of a second floor loft apartment. The sprinklers contained the fire before it could spread and cause significant damage. Crews confirmed the fire was out, shut off the system and concentrated their efforts on removing the water from the building.

Date: 5/03/13
Time:  7:39 p.m. 
Address:  S. 14th St/S. "I" St. 

Response:  Station 2,4

Damage Estimate:  $1,800

Narrative:  Crews extinguished a fire that started in the engine compartment of a motor vehicle (car).

Date: 5/03/13
Time:  9:23 p.m. 
Address:  1212 S. 27th St.

Response:  Station 1,2,4,8,11

Damage Estimate:  $206

Narrative:  Firefighters responded to a reported apartment fire. Upon arrival they determined that a faulty exterior light fixture caught fire causing minimal damage.

Date: 5/04/13
Time:  1:53 a.m. 
Address:  726 6th Ave

Response:  Station 1

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Firefighters responded to a dumpster fire. 

Date: 5/04/13
Time:  3:33 a.m. 
Address:  1246 S. Grant Ave.

Response:  Station 1,2,4,9

Damage Estimate:  $937

Narrative:  Firefighters responded to an oven fire. The homeowners used a dry chemical extinguisher on the fire, crews confirmed the fire was out and ventilated the house. Damage was limited to the stove.

Date: 5/04/13
Time:  6:37 a.m. 
Address:  4800 S. Oakes St.

Response:  Station 8

Damage Estimate:  $500

Narrative:  Firefighters extinguished a exterior shrub fire near occupied business. The cause was undetermined. 

Date: 5/04/13
Time:  10:14 a.m. 
Address:  6232 S. Orchard St. 

Response:  Station 7

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Prohibited outdoor burn of yard waste. 


Date: 5/04/13
Time:  3:55 p.m.  
Address:  723 Martin Luther King Wy 

Response:  Station 4

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Crews extinguished small beauty bark fire. 


Date: 5/04/13
Time:  4:15 p.m.  
Address:  2401 S. 35th St. 

Response:  Station 8

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Crews extinguished small beauty bark fire.


Date: 5/04/13
Time:  4:46 p.m.  
Address:  1627 S. 84th St 

Response:  Station 2,7,8,10,15

Damage Estimate:  Undetermined

Narrative:  Crews extinguished a small garage fire most likely ignited by the home owner burning weeds to close to the structure. 


Date: 5/04/13
Time:  4:54 p.m.  
Address:  815 E. Morton St

Response:  Station 11

Damage Estimate:  undetermined

Narrative:  Firefighters confirmed that the small fire that the occupants had extinguished was out and there was no extension. 


Date: 5/04/13
Time:  6:46 p.m.  
Address:  5431 S. Sheridan Ave

Response:  Station 2,4,7,8,10,11,15,16

Damage Estimate:  $6,700

Narrative:  Firefighters responded to a reported commercial structure fire. The first arriving engine company found smoke showing from the laundry business. Upon further investigation crews determined that a fire had started in the dryer duct work. They extinguished the fire, and evaluated one patient for smoke exposure.  

Date: 5/04/13
Time:  6:47 p.m.  
Address:  5200 Pacific Highway

Response:  Station 12

Damage Estimate:  undetermined

Narrative:  Firefighters extinguished a bark fire in a planting strip.

Date: 5/04/13
Time:  7:08 p.m.  
Address:  4502 S. Steele St

Response:  Station 4

Damage Estimate:  undetermined

Narrative:  Firefighters extinguished a bark fire. 

Date: 5/04/13
Time:  7:58 p.m. 
Address:  767 Market St.

Response:  Station 1

Damage Estimate:  undetermined

Narrative:  Firefighters extinguished a beauty bark fire. 

Date: 5/04/13
Time:  8:57 p.m. 
Address:  3717 S. Ainsworth Ave.

Response:  Station 8

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Prohibited outdoor burn of household furniture. 


Date: 5/04/13
Time:  10:36 p.m. 
Address:  1429 E. 46th St.

Response:  Station 11

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Prohibited outdoor burn of plywood with inadequate clearances. 


Date: 5/05/13
Time:  3:27 a.m. 
Address:  7403 East "E" St.

Response:  Station 10

Damage Estimate:  $3,400

Narrative:  Crews extinguished a fire that started in the refrigerator unit of a 35 foot travel trailer.  One patient was evaluated and treated at the scene. 


Date: 5/05/13
Time:  11:12 a.m. 
Address:  7235 S. Madison St.

Response:  Station 7,10

Damage Estimate:  $3,400

Narrative:  Crews extinguished a brush fire started by a juvenile. The youth and family were referred to our Firestoppers program.    


Date: 5/05/13
Time:  2:22 p.m. 
Address:  4015 S. "M" St.

Response:  Station 2

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Prohibited outdoor burn. 


Date: 5/05/13
Time:  2:54 p.m. 
Address:  5308 Pacific Hwy E

Response:  Station 2,12

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Firefighters extinguished a beauty bark fire.


Date: 5/05/13
Time:  5:13 p.m.
Address:  5152 Pacific Hwy E

Response:  Station 12

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Firefighters extinguished a bark fire in a 6 foot long planter box. 


Date: 5/05/13
Time:  10:02 p.m.
Address:  6047 S. Asotin 

Response:  Station 8,10

Damage Estimate:  none

Narrative:  Prohibited outdoor burn of yard waste.