Fire Incident Summary

Date: 1/12/13
Time: 3:39 a.m.
Address: 2000 Eells St.
Damage Estimate: None
Narrative: Illegal burn of an old tire for warming at a homeless camp.   

Date: 1/13/13
Time:  2:42 a.m.
Address:  N.1st/Tacoma Ave N.
Damage Estimate:  $56,500
Narrative:  High speed fatality collision.  Single occupied vehicle crashed into two parked vehicles.  The impact resulted in a fire that damaged three vehicles, a power pole, a planter and bench.

Date: 1/13/13
Time: 3:06 a.m.
Address: 1947 S. Yakima
Damage Estimate: $120,000
Narrative: It is likely that a warming or cooking fire started by transients ignited the vacant and abandoned home.  No suspects.

Date: 1/13/13
Time: 12:41 p.m.
Address: 933 Market St.
Damage Estimate: None
Narrative: Improperly discarded cigarette ignited mulch in planter box.



 
  

Section of old SR 16 overpass falls on South Tacoma Way

Incident Date: 1/11/13
Issuing Officer: BC Jim Zuluaga & Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: South Tacoma Way and Sprague Ave
Incident Type: Construction Accident

Narrative:  At 1:48 p.m. Tacoma Firefighters responded to a reported construction accident on the State Route 16 construction project.

Crews arrived to find a large section of the old overpass had fallen on South Tacoma Way during the demolition process.  The debris damaged underground utilities including a water main, and natural gas line.  South Tacoma Way remains closed until the piece can be removed, and utility repairs completed.

There were no injuries to report.

Requests for Service - December 2012

December 2012
Dispatch totals for TFD & CPFR response area

9-1-1 Dispatch Totals	December	YTD 2012	YTD 2011
FCC Total Calls Received	7,492	88,903	84,695
FCC Total Fire Companies Dispatched	9,777	115,014	114,080

TFD Incidents by Initial Dispatch Type

TFD - Incidents	December	YTD 2012	YTD 2011
Fire Incidents	81	1,436	1,408
Emergency Medical Incidents	2,862	31,367	29,881
All Other Incidents	452	6,056	6,441
Total Incidents by Type	3,395	38,859	37,730

HTML Tables

Electrical Wiring Ignites House Fire on N. 25th Street

Incident Date: 1/8/13
Issuing  Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 4010 N 25th Street
Incident Type: House Fire

Narrative:  At 7:49 am Tacoma firefighters responded to a reported house fire less than two blocks from Station 13.  The first fire engine and battalion chief, traveling from Station 9, arrived at the scene at 7:53 and reported that smoke and flames were showing from the one-story residence.  Ladder 3, also traveling from Station 9, arrived at 7:54.  Crews entered the house and attacked the fire, confining it to the room of origin.  The crew from the newly established Squad 13 searched the interior of house.  Two occupants were home at the time of the fire and escaped without harm, and there were no injuries to report.

The cause of the fire was a failure of the homes knob and tube electrical wiring, resulting in an estimated $15,000 damage to the building and its contents.

The house fire occurred within the first hour of the Tacoma Fire Department’s new modified deployment model, which was adopted as part of the City's 2013-14 biennium budget. 

Fire in Cabinet Manufacturing Facility

Incident Date: 1/7/13
Issuing Officer: BC Ray Manglona and Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 1815 East "D" Street
Incident Type: Commercial Structure Fire

Narrative: At 3:10 p.m., Tacoma Firefighters responded to a reported commercial structure fire in a cabinet manufacturing business.

Crews arrived to find fire coming from a large section of ductwork for the buildings dust collection system.  Crews isolated the area of fire in the conveyance ducts using thermal imaging cameras, took sections apart, and used Class A Foam to extinguish the fire in the ducts and the systems hopper area.

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

UPDATE:  The cause of the fire was embers from a bandsaw that ignited the wood products in the ducts and hopper, resulting in an estimated $35,000 dollars damage to the building and its contents.

Two injured in late night house fire on South Fawcett Ave

Incident Date: 1/1/13
Incident Location: 4514 South Fawcett Ave
Incident Type: Residential House Fire

Narrative: At 10:20 p.m. Tacoma Firefighters responded to a reported house fire with possible entrapment.

Crews arrived to find heavy flames and smoke showing from the front of the 1 ½ story 936 square foot single family residence. Crews attacked the fire with handlines, ventilated the roof and determined that all of the occupants had made it out of the building. Two occupants were transported to an area hospital for injuries suffered in the blaze.

The cause of the fire was undetermined and resulted in an estimated $65,000 dollars damage to the building and its content.

Safe disposal of your Christmas Tree

TFD encourages you to remove and recycle your natural Christmas tree as soon as possible.  Never burn the tree, decorations or wrapping paper in your fireplace or woodstove. 

Facts and Figures

According to the National Fire Protection Association:

• Between 2006-2010, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 230 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires caused an average of 4 deaths, 21 injuries, and $17.3 million in direct property damage annually.

• Christmas tree fires are not common, but when they occur, they are likely to be serious. On average, one of every 66 reported fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in death.

For those living in the City of Tacoma...

Landfill drop-off: Residents, apartment tenants and businesses in Tacoma may dispose of undecorated and unflocked trees free by bringing them to the recycling center at the City of Tacoma Landfill (3510 S. Mullen St). Trees may be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 26 through Jan. 21. The landfill will be closed Jan. 1. Apartment managers or landlords who collect tenants’ trees may drop them off all at once for free, but are encouraged to call (253) 591-5543 in advance. Tree lot operators and nonprofit groups must pay for disposal.

Curbside collection: Solid Waste Management will collect only trees that have been cut and placed inside the brown yard waste container with the lid closed flat. Trees left next to containers will not be collected. Tacoma residents may recycle Christmas trees free at the Tacoma Landfill’s Recycling Center (3510 S. Mullen St.), Dec. 26 through Jan. 21. Decorated or flocked trees cannot be recycled and must go in the garbage. Customers with questions about Christmas tree recycling may call (253) 591-5543.