Thanksgiving Fires Are Preventable

As you prepare for the Thanksgiving Holiday, Tacoma Fire Department encourages everyone to follow this "tried and true" recipe for a safe celebration.   

According to data from United States Fire Administration, an estimated 2,000 Thanksgiving Day fires (in residential buildings) occur annually in the United States, resulting in an estimated average of five deaths, 25 injuries and $21 million in property loss each year. The majority of these fires are related to making the wonderful holiday feast.

When it comes to cooking:

• Keep a close watch on your cooking. You should never leave cooking food unattended.
• Keep oven food packaging and other combustibles away from burners and heat sources.

• Heat cooking oil slowly and watch it closely; it can ignite quickly.
• Don't wear loose sleeves while working over hot stove burners - they can melt, ignite or catch on handles of pots and pans spilling hot oil and other liquids.
• Have a "kid-free zone" of at least three-feet around the stove and areas where hot foods or drinks are prepared or carried.
• Keep a lid nearby to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stove top. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.
• Make sure you have smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area, and in every bedroom. Test smoke alarms monthly and replace them if they are 10 years old or older.  

Transit Bus Rollover Crash

Incident Date: November 22, 2010
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: S. 19th and S. Jefferson Street

Incident Type: Transit Bus Rollover

Narrative: At 10:40 a.m. TFD units were dispatched to a reported Pierce County Transit Bus Rollover accident. First arriving companies found a bus that had slid off the road, struck a retaining wall and rolled on its side at one of the entrances to the University of Washington Tacoma campus.

Approximately 15-20 people were on the bus at the time of the accident, and medic crews evaluated and transported 10 of those passengers to local area hospitals as a result of their injuries.

No students or by-standers were injured in the crash.

November 15th Wind Storm

Incident Date: November 15, 2010
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: Area Wide
Incident Type: Wind Storm

Narrative: At approximately 9:00 p.m., a wide spread high wind storm swept through the greater Tacoma area causing numerous power outages and knocking several trees down. TFD relied on it's back-up generators to power several fire stations and our dispatch center, during the outage. Tacoma Fire Communications Center dispatched units to 47 incidents (in Tacoma's response area) between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

The majority of these calls were for downed power lines and fallen trees, but they also included calls for people trapped in elevators or offices, and a boat house that broke loose in the narrows marina and drifted into a dock.  Fortunately, there were no injuries to report to citizen's or firefighters.

Storms like these illustrate the value of having a family disaster preparedness kit and remember that in the event of an extended power outage, use flashlights instead of candles (fire hazard) for light and never bring your barbecue indoors to heat or cook with (carbon monoxide poisoning).

A Bird Stuck in A Tree?

Tacoma Fire Department recently responded to a request for assistance for a "bird stuck in a tree...".  How could a "bird be stuck in a tree" you ask?  Upon arrival, the crew from TFD's Ladder 3 had their answer.

A Falconer was training a wild Red Tailed Hawk by tethering it to a very long, thin cord and letting it practice flying back and forth.  Unfortunately on one of the flights, the cord got caught up high in the branches of a large maple tree near the duck pond at Point Defiance Park.

Ladder 3's crew extended a 35' ground ladder allowing a firefighter to climb up, unhook the tangled tether, and re-hook their own rope to carry the hawk down safely. 

All-in all a successful operation, with no injuries to report to the falcon or firefighters.    



Ladder-3 (C-Shift), Captain Tom Zurfluh, Firefighter Ted Wold, Firefighter Zach Prida (on ladder)



Cushman Street House Fire

Incident Date: November 4, 2010
Issuing Officer: Jolene Davis

Incident Location: 5401 S. Cushman
Incident Type: House Fire

Narrative: At 3:07 p.m. units were dispatched to a reported house fire at 5401 S. Cushman Street. Five Tacoma Fire Engines, along with one Central Pierce Fire and Rescue Ladder Company, Tacoma Medic Units and Command staff responded.

The first arriving crews found heavy smoke and flames coming from the 2 story house. Firefighters entered the first floor of the home to attack the fire and search the home, but found the stairway to the second floor was burned through. Firefighters had to use ground ladders from the exterior of the building to access the second floor of the structure for fire attack and search and rescue.

As a result of the fire, one person was transported to an area hospital and one pet perished. The fire displaced 6 occupants, and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

UPDATE:  Investigators have determined that the cause of the fire was a child playing with ignition materials.  The fire caused an estimated $90,000 damage to the house and it's contents.  

Be Alarmed! Change your Smoke Alarm Batteries 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.

According to the Washington State Fire Marshal, the majority of fire deaths in our State occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Furthermore, the peak time for home fire fatalities is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. - when families are sleeping and most vulnerable!

For best protection, it is recommended that people install alarms utilizing both (ionization and photoelectric) technology and ones 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.

A Pair of Early Morning Fires

Incident Date: October 20, 2010
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 302 S. 9th Street
Incident Type: Commercial Structure Fire

Narrative: At 1:17 a.m. 10 companies of Tacoma Firefighters, 5 engines, 2 Ladders, 2 Medic Units and Command Staff responded to a reported commercial structure fire.

First arriving companies found a fire in a back storage room of the Subway Shop located on the ground floor of the three story business occupancy. Firefighters quickly forced entry and mounted an aggressive interior attack, knocking the fire down, containing it to the area of origin and preventing it from spreading to the additional 10 suites in the building.

Fire investigators determined that the cause of the fire was an overheated extension cord that ignited combustible materials. The fire caused an estimated $30,000 damage to the building and contents.

There were no injuries to report.

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Incident Date: October 20, 2010
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 1203 S. 96th St.
Incident Type: Garage Fire

Narrative: At 1:55 a.m. 7 companies of Tacoma and Central Pierce Firefighters, 4 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Medic Unit and Command Staff responded to a reported garage fire.

First arriving crews found a fully involved garage fire. A defensive strategy was used to prevent the spread of the fire to the adjacent structures. The fire caused approximately $160,000 damage, completely destroying the 1,100 square foot garage, 2 vehicles and its contents.

The cause of the fire was an overheated Chiminea being used to heat the garage. These devices are not designed for interior use.

There were no injuries to report.