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. 

House Fire on "M" Street

Incident Date: 7/8/11
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 910 S "M" Street
Incident Type: Residential Structure Fire

Narrative:  At 7:41 a.m seven companies of Tacoma Firefighters (four engines, one ladder, one medic company, and command staff) responded to a reported residential structure fire.

First arriving companies found heavy smoke and flames showing from the upper floor of the 1 1/2 story 2,386 square foot bungalow.  Crews mounted an aggressive interior attack with hand lines, vertically ventilated the building to release heat and smoke from the attic area and conducted primary search and rescue.  Working smoke alarms alerted the occupants to the fire and all escaped without injury.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

UPDATE: The cause of the fire was an overheated lamp, resulting in an estimated $30,000 damage to the building and its contents.

Commercial Stucture Fire at former Heidelberg Brewery Building

Incident Date: 7/6/11
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 21st and "C" Street
Incident Type: Commercial Structure Fire

Narrative:  At 11:48 p.m. nine companies of Tacoma Firefighters (5 Engines, 2 Ladders, 2 Medic Companies and command staff) responded to a reported roof fire in a commercial building.  First arriving companies found a well established fire on the roof and upper floor area of a portion of the Columbia-Heidelberg brewery complex. The fire was upgraded to a second alarm at 12:22 a.m. (3 additional engines and 2 ladders) - securing more resources to prevent the fire from spreading to the adjacent buildings. 

Due to the size of the structure, the response was divided into two tactical operation zones and two ladder company aerial master streams were deployed to attack the fire from above.  Using a well coordinated "defensive strategy" the fire was extinguished and contained to the area of origin (the eighty-five thousand square foot turn of the century building is vacant and currently being demolished)

Fire crews also made considerable salvage efforts to help preserve the inventory of the Pierce County Toys for Tots program being stored in the warehouse building exposed to the fire.

There were no injuries to report and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

UPDATE:  Fire investigators have concluded that the area of origin of the fire was in a room on the top floor of the building, but are undetermined as to it's cause.  There are no obvious signs that the fire was deliberately set or is suspicious in nature.

Fireworks Are Prohibited in Tacoma

With the 4th of July holiday fast approaching, Tacoma Fire Department offers this reminder - fireworks are prohibited in Tacoma.

All fireworks are illegal within the Tacoma city limits and violators of the fireworks law are subject to a fine and the confiscation of their fireworks.

Most fireworks violations are class 2 civil infractions and can result in a $257 fine; citizens using fireworks are also subject to arrest for other charges (i.e. arson, reckless burning, and assault). Fireworks are only permissible within city limits when a permit has been issued for a sanctioned public event.

Citizen’s can report fireworks violations from July 1 to July 6 by calling (253) 798-4722. If the fireworks violation appears to put people or property in immediate danger, call 911.

For more information on fireworks, visit TFD's web site or the Washington State Fire Marshal's Office.

House Fire on South "L" Street Displaces 4 Occupants

Incident Date: 6/22/2011
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 2551 South "L" Street
Incident Type: Residential Structure Fire

Narrative: At 8:23 p.m. Tacoma Firefighters responded to a reported house fire.  First arriving companies found flames and heavy smoke showing from both floors of the two story wood framed 2,100 square foot single family home.  Crews extinguished the fire with hand lines and completed primary and secondary search and rescue. 

The occupants were alerted to the fire by smoke alarms, and were able to evacuate without injury.  "Thankfully, the working smoke alarms activated in this situation, because given the heavy volume of smoke and fire, this could have easily been a tragic outcome" said Battalion Chief Jolene Davis.

The cause of the fire was unattended cooking, resulting in an estimated $75,000 dollars damage to the building and $25,000 dollars to it's contents.

 

Hazardous Conditons Call At Senator Murray's Satellite Office

Incident Date: June 16, 2011
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 950 Pacific Ave 
Incident Type: Hazardous Conditions Call

Narrative: At 12:17 p.m, four companies of Tacoma Firefighters (1 engine, 1 ladder, Haz-Mat, and command staff) responded to a report of a suspicious package at U.S. Senator Patty Murray's Tacoma satellite office.

After evacuating the office, standard testing for hazardous materials including biological, radiological and chemical substances were conducted by the haz-mat team.  The field test results were negative and the scene was turned over to law enforcement and the U.S. postal service for follow-up. 

There were no injuries to report.