Tacoma Fire Department Awarded SAFER Grant

The Tacoma Fire Department has received notification from the Department of Homeland Security that it has been awarded a $7.7 million dollar Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant.

The SAFER Grant program provides funding to departments to help them maintain the number of trained "front-line" firefighters available in their communities. The grant will enable the department to retain 37 firefighters who were facing layoffs to help meet the demands for emergency calls and nationally recognized standards for safe and effective firefighter staffing.   

Residential House Training Burn on East "B" Street

Date: 06/15/12
Location: 6816 E. “B” Street

Narrative: On Friday, June 15, 2012, Tacoma Fire Department conducted a training burn at 6816 E. “B” Street.

Live fire training in a controlled environment is valuable tool to improve firefighting skills. Over 20 firefighters and staff participated in a variety of drills throughout the day including interior fire attack, hose handling, ventilation, ladder techniques and firefighter accountability and safety procedures.

The Tacoma Fire Department would like to thank the property owner for allowing this mutually beneficial opportunity to take place.  TFD got access to "live fire" training, while saving the property owner significant demolition costs.

Residential House Fire South 13th Street

Incident Date: 6/13/12
Issuing Officer: Faith Mueller/Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 1314 S. 13th Street
Incident Type: Residential Structure Fire

Narrative:  At 8:10 p.m. seven companies (four engines, one ladder, one medic company and command staff) responded to a reported residential house fire.

First arriving crews found heavy flames and smoke showing from the front of the one story 1,224 square foot residence.  Crews made an aggressive interior attack with 1 3/4 inch hose lines, completed vertical ventilation and conducted primary search and rescue. 

The fire displaced 6 occupants from the residence and there were no injuries to report.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

UPDATE: Fire investigators have determined that the cause of the fire was the ignition of combustible materials too close to a baseboard heater.  The fire caused and estimated $173,500 dollars damage to the building and its contents and displaced 8 occupants from the house.

Residential Fire N. Ferdinand

Incident Date: 6/13/12
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 4519 N. Ferdinand
Incident Type: Residential Structure Fire

Narrative:  At 6:45 a.m. seven companies of Tacoma Firefighters (four engines, one ladder, one medic company, and command staff) were called for a reported furnace fire.

First arriving companies found smoke showing from the basement area of the 1 story house.  Crews worked their way to the basement and fought the fire with handlines, ventilated the house from the heavy smoke layer and completed search and rescue.  There were no injuries to report.

The cause of the fire was an electrical malfunction related to the furnace resulting in an estimated $21,500 damage to the building and its contents.     

Requests for Service-May 2012

May 2012

Dispatch totals for TFD & CPFR response area

9-1-1 Dispatch Totals	May	YTD 2012	YTD 2011
FCC Total Calls Received	7,140	36,376	34,703
FCC Total Fire Companies Dispatched	9,489	48,261	47,368

TFD Incidents by Initial Dispatch Type

TFD - Incidents	May	YTD 2012	YTD 2011
Fire Incidents	118	459	442
Emergency Medical Incidents	2,704	13,394	12,574
All Other Incidents	563	2,877	2,604
Total Incidents by Type	3,385	16,730	15,620

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Informational Demonstration at Foss High School

Narrative: As a large group of high school seniors looked on, numerous local agencies participated in a "mock" driving under the influence (DUI) demonstration today at Foss High School. At 10:15 a.m. a 9-1-1 call reporting a motor vehicle crash rang out over a sound system signifying the start of the simulated drill. The scenario: A head-on two car motor vehicle crash involving an inebriated high school driver. The outcome: four patients – two of which were trapped in their car requiring the roof to be cut off to free them, one patient being transported by helicopter to the hospital and one patient dying at the scene.

Participating agencies included the Tacoma Police and Fire Departments, Rural Metro Ambulance, Airlift Northwest and the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s office. With our high school students celebrating at their prom and graduation parties over the next couple of weeks our message is simple: PLEASE - DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE!

Vehicle into a building on 6th Ave

Incident Date: 5/31/2012
Issuing Officer: Faith Mueller/Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 3302 6th Ave
Incident Type: Motor Vehicle Crash

Narrative:  At 7:46 p.m. firefighters were called for a report of a car crashed into a commercial building. 

First responding units arrived to find a vehicle had crashed through the front entryway of a "grocery store" type business at 6th and Junette Street.  Firefighters and paramedics worked quickly to remove the patients from the debris of the crash site and assessed and treated a total of 5 patients.  Four of the patients were transported as a result of the accident (1 from the vehicle, 3 from inside the store) and one patient was released at the scene.