Fire Heavily Damages House On N. 24th Street

Incident Date: 10/19/12
Issuing Officer: DC Faith Mueller & Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 3714 N. 24th Street
Incident Type: House Fire

Narrative: At 3:02 a.m. Tacoma Firefighters responded to a reported residential structure fire.

The first arriving engine company found heavy flames and smoke showing from first and second floors of the 1 ½ story 1,862 square foot single family residence. Firefighters made an initial interior attack, however, had to transition to a defensive strategy as the roof of the structure threatened to collapse. Firefighters concentrated their efforts on protecting adjacent houses exposed to the fire, and dousing the blaze from the exterior with hand lines and above from a Ladder Company.

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

Get Ready to ShakeOut!

Since earthquakes may happen anywhere you work, live, or travel, Tacoma Fire Department stresses the importance of being prepared and practicing how to protect yourself during a quake.

At 10:18 a.m. on October 18, 2012, millions across the country will practice the survival skill of “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.”

The goal of the drill is to prevent a major earthquake from becoming a catastrophe for you, your organization, and your community. Why is this drill important? As with anything, to act quickly you must practice often. You may only have seconds to protect yourself in an earthquake before strong shaking knocks you down, or something falls on you.

Everyone can participate!

Great turnout for CPR Sunday Training Event!

A fantastic turnout highlighted the 15th annual CPR Sunday training event. Spread out over 4 sessions, hundreds of participants learned how to perform CPR and use an Automated External Defibrillator. According to TFD firefighter and event organizer Craig Hannah "Early intervention in a sudden cardiac situation is key, and today’s participants are now prepared to potentially save a life someday."

Missed today’s event, but still interested in learning CPR? Classes are also held twice a month - visit our CPR page or call 253.594.7979 for a schedule of upcoming sessions.

Fireboat Destiny rescues one off McNeil Island

Incident Date:  10/13/12
Issuing Officer:  BC Dyre Fudge
Incident Location:  NW tip of McNeil Island
Incident Type: Water Rescue

Narrative:  At 6:42 p.m. Tacoma firefighters responded to a mutual aid request for assistance with a water rescue off McNeil Island in South Puget Sound.

Initial reports were that two people aboard a 14 foot skiff capsized and were stranded in the cold waters off the northwest tip of McNeil Island. Fireboat Destiny arrived in the area and coordinated a parallel search with the Anderson Island fireboat that had just arrived on scene.  After searching for about 10 minutes, the crew from the Destiny located one adult clinging to the skiff, pulled them to safety and helped transfer the patient to local responders.  The second adult from the skiff was able to swim to shore and was found safe on the beach.

Requests for Service September 2012

September 2012
Dispatch totals for TFD & CPFR response area

9-1-1 Dispatch Totals	September	YTD 2012	YTD 2011
FCC Total Calls Received	7,542	66,389	64,624
FCC Total Fire Companies Dispatched	9,909	86,659	86,751

TFD Incidents by Initial Dispatch Type

TFD - Incidents	September	YTD 2012	YTD 2011
Fire Incidents	212	1,228	1,209
Emergency Medical Incidents	2,602	24,005	22,897
All Other Incidents	403	4,894	4,856
Total Incidents by Type	3,217	30,127	28,962

HTML Tables

Join us at fire station open houses during Fire Prevention Week 2012.

Residents can celebrate Fire Prevention Week by visiting six neighborhood fire stations from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, October 13. This year’s theme, “have two ways out,” encourages everyone to team up and spread the message that fire safety saves lives!

Equipment will be on display and firefighters will answer questions about escape planning, fire safety and disaster preparedness.

The following six stations will host open houses:

Station 3 -   206 Browns Point Blvd, NE Tacoma
Station 4 -   1453 S. 12th (Earnest S Brazil St), Hilltop
Station 11 - 3802 McKinley Ave., McKinley Hill
Station 13 - 3825 N. 25th, Proctor
Station 16 - 7217 6th Ave., Skyline/West End District
Station 17 - 302 Regents Blvd., Fircrest

For more information on the activities hosted at each station, call the Tacoma Fire Department Fire Prevention Division at 591-5740. We look forward to seeing you there!

Technical Rescue Training – Spotlight on Trench Rescue

Firefighters on TFD’s Technical Rescue team were hard at work last week practicing the operational aspects of trench rescue. Typical trench rescue scenarios involve scene stabilization, shoring up the sides of a trench and digging a trapped person out of a collapsed ditch.

Firefighters drilled on how to use waler systems to protect an open space inside a trench.  They also practiced lifting a heavy object at the bottom of a trench, and working around a piece of equipment such as a backhoe, or excavator that may have failed and is still in the trench.

“Trench rescue is one of the most dangerous operations we respond to," said Training Captain Lee Law. “Hands-on training is a great tool to help our personnel be well equipped to save someone trapped, while ensuring firefighter safety during these high risk operations.”

TFD's Technical Rescue team is trained to conduct rope, trench, confined space, structural collapse and vehicle/machinery rescues.