Firefighters respond to house fire on S. 25th Street.

Incident Date:  12/24/13
Issuing Officer:  Joe Meinecke
Incident Location:  2218 S. 25th St.
Incident Type:  Residential Structure Fire

Narrative:  At 12:44 PM, Firefighters from stations 1,2,4,8,9,11 and 17 responded to a reported house fire.

The first arriving company found heavy smoke showing from the one story approximately 1,000 square foot residence. Crews attacked the fire with handlines, prevented the fire from spreading to a nearby house, ventilated the roof, and searched the structure to confirm no one was trapped inside.

Seven occupants, two dogs, and (with the help of a fire crew) a pet python were all able to escape the blaze without harm. There were no injuries to report. Relocation assistance was requested from the Red Cross for one adult and four children displaced in the fire.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

UPDATE:  A fire investigator determined that the cause of the fire was a child igniting combustibles with a lighter, resulting in an estimated $116,000 damage to the building and its contents.

Firefighters battle three unrelated blazes in a three hour span

Incident #1

Incident Location: 1648 E. 31 Street
Incident Type: Detached Garage Fire

Narrative:  At 5:44 PM, Firefighters from station 1,2,7,8,9,11 and 15 responded to a reported detached garage fire.

The first arriving company found heavy flames and smoke showing from a 1,392 square foot single story detached garage that had been converted into a “mother-in-law” apartment. Crews mounted an aggressive attack, protected nearby exposure structures, and confirmed that no one was trapped inside the structure. The Red Cross was requested to provide relocation services to 2 adults displaced in the incident and there were no injuries to report.

The cause of the fire was undetermined, resulting in an estimated $60,000 damage to the building and its contents.

Incident #2

Incident Location: 6841 S. Fife Street 
Incident Type: Residential Structure Fire

Narrative:  At 6:29 PM, Firefighters from station 1,2,4,8,9 and 15 responded to a reported house fire. The first arriving company found flames and smoke showing from the approximately 900 square foot one and a half story home. Crews attacked the fire with handlines, ventilated the roof and conducted search and rescue to confirm no one was trapped inside.

One person was transported to an area hospital for evaluation from the incident and the cause was determined to be intentionally set. Tacoma Police Department arrested one suspect and the fire resulted in an estimated $112,000 damage to the building and its contents.

Incident #3

Incident Location: 1440 Port of Tacoma Road
Incident Type: Commercial Structure Fire

Narrative:  At 8:29 PM, Firefighters from stations 1,2,9,11,and 12 responded to a reported commercial structure fire. The first arriving company found smoke showing from 450 square foot single story office building. Crews made entry into the structure and found fire in the wall and ceiling area. Crews quickly extinguished the fire, limiting the damage to that area of the building.

The cause of the fire was a malfunctioning HVAC unit resulting in an estimated $15,000 damage to the building and its contents.     

The 25th Annual Firefighters Christmas Project!

 Tacoma Firefighters raise $12,000 to brighten the holidays for 125 local families.

For the past 25 years, Tacoma Firefighters have brought holiday cheer to the lives of thousands of Tacoma children and their families with deliveries of food, clothing and gifts just before Christmas. This year, firefighters have raised over $12,000 dollars to help more than 125 children and families in need.

“It’s always a great honor to help bring a little happiness to those in need during the holidays,” said project co-founder Lieutenant Jim Lee (other co-founders include Lieutenant Andrea Schroeder and Firefighter Ron Ernst). "We are also very grateful for the generous support from active and retired Tacoma Firefighters throughout the past 25 years. Without their commitment to the community and this program, none of this would have been possible" said Lee.

Special deliveries from a fire engine, medic unit and Santa Claus are scheduled for Dec. 20 and Dec. 21. This year’s recipients were identified through the Tacoma School District Head Start Program, YWCA Women’s Shelter, and the Sharing House.

For additional information regarding this event, contact Lieutenant Jim Lee at (253) 381-0851.

Requests for Service - November 2013

TFD Incidents by Initial Dispatch Type

TFD - Incidents	November	2013 (YTD)	2012 (YTD)
Fire	91	1,352	1,429
Emergency Medical	2,623	29,532	29,268
All Other (e.g. hazardous conditions, search and rescue, automatic fire alarms)	424	4,939	5,752
Total	3,138	35,823	36,451

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Protecting People, Property & the Environment

Freezing temperatures can lead to frozen water pipes!

As the recent cold snap comes to an end  many homeowners and businesses will be dealing with yet another hazard - broken water pipes. As the water in pipes freezes it expands - causing the pipes to crack or burst. You won’t often know there is a problem until the temperatures warm enough to melt the ice and allow for water to flow. If you are experiencing the unfortunate dilemma of frozen or busted water pipes, here are a few things you need to know.

Homeowners:

• Most importantly, know where and how to shut off your main water supply before you have a problem. There should be a main valve for your house (usually located in the basement or crawl space) and one at the water meter pit. 
• The pipes that freeze most frequently are those that are exposed to severe cold, such as outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, water sprinkler lines and water supply pipes in unheated interior areas such as basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages or kitchen cabinets. Pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation are also subject to freezing.
• Make sure pipes located in exterior walls, or in floors over unheated spaces (such as a bathroom above an attached garage) are insulated and protected. Keep your garage door closed.
• Remember to never use an open flame torch (fire danger) or boiling water (will cause the pipes to burst) when thawing pipes. A hair drier on low setting works well.
• Select a licensed plumber to assist you in making any necessary repairs.
• If you are a Tacoma Water customer, and you have a water leak emergency, call the trouble line at (253) 502-8384. 

Businesses:

• Make sure that any exterior piping is insulated and hose bib’s are covered.
• Increase the building temperature to prevent freezing (particularly warehouses – storage facilities).
• Fire Sprinkler systems that go out of service require you to institute a Fire Watch until the system is operable.

MVA with Technical Rescue on E.35th

Incident Date: 12/8/13
Issuing Officer: BC Jolene Davis & Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 1801 E. 35th St
Incident Type: MVA with Technical Rescue

Narrative: At 3:54 am, Firefighters from stations 1,2,3,7,8, and 11 responded to a reported motor vehicle crash involving a car over an embankment.

The first arriving company found a single car had left the road and plunged approximately 100 feet down a steep ravine. With two injured occupants struggling in the sub-freezing temperatures, TFD's technical rescue team worked quickly to set up high-angle rope system to safely remove them from the crash scene. Both occupants were transported to an area hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.

Put the freeze on winter fires!

Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fires during the winter months. With extended freezing temperatures in the forecast, the Tacoma Fire Department offers the following fire safety tips.

• Have your chimney and furnace inspected annually and cleaned if necessary.
• Portable heaters need their space. Keep anything that can catch fire at least three feet from the heat.
• Never use a range or an oven as a supplemental heating device.
• Have working smoke alarms and practice a home escape plan with your family.
• In the event of a power outage, always use a flashlight – not a candle – for emergency lighting.

For additional winter fire safety information visit the USFA or NFPA websites.