Requests for Service - November 2016

TFD Incidents by Initial Dispatch Type

TFD - Incidents	November	2016 (YTD)	2015 (YTD)
Fire	91	1,508	1,702
Emergency Medical	3,063	34,715	33,519
All Other (e.g. hazardous conditions, search and rescue, automatic fire alarms)	608	6,530	6,160
Total	3,762	42,753	41,381

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Protecting People, Property & the Environment

Probationary Firefighters Celebrate Milestone

Probationary Firefighters celebrate a milestone today as they achieve the rank of Firefighter with the department.

The culmination of a one-year hiring process, Probationary Firefighters have successfully completed an initial 16-week Recruit Academy and subsequent hands-on and competency based testing in fire suppression, emergency medical services, search and rescue and hazardous materials operations.

On behalf of the citizens we serve, and the Tacoma Fire Department, congratulations!

2016 Tacoma Firefighters Christmas Project

Tacoma Firefighters raise $14,000 to brighten the holidays for 140 local families.

For the past 28 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 $14,000 dollars to help more than 140 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 Captain Jim Lee. "We are also very grateful for the generous support from active and retired Tacoma Firefighters throughout the past 28 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. 19 and Dec. 21. This year’s recipients were identified through the Tacoma School District Head Start Program and YWCA Women’s Shelter.

For additional information contact Captain Jim Lee at (253) 381-0851.

Requests for Service - October 2016

TFD Incidents by Initial Dispatch Type

TFD - Incidents	October	2016 (YTD)	2015 (YTD)
Fire	91	1,417	1,609
Emergency Medical	3,180	31,652	30,510
All Other (e.g. hazardous conditions, search and rescue, automatic fire alarms)	644	5,922	5,543
Total	3,915	38,991	37,662

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Protecting People, Property & the Environment

Great Shakeout 2016

Millions of people worldwide will practice how to Drop, Cover and Hold On at 10:20 a.m. on October 20 during Great Shakeout Earthquake Drills!

Join them!

Details at www.shakeout.org/washington.

National Fire Prevention Week - 2016

It's #nationalfirepreventionweek and this year's theme is “Don’t Wait – Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years.”

• Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
• Make sure you know how old all the smoke alarms are in your home.
• To find out how old a smoke alarm is, look at the date of manufacture on the back of the alarm; the alarm should be replaced 10 years from that date.

Visit Fire Prevention Week for addition details. 

Dr. James G. Billingsley recognized for 49 years of service as TFD Medical Director

A message from Tacoma Fire Chief James P. Duggan.

At last night's Tacoma City Council Meeting, Mayor Marilyn Strickland recognized Dr. James G. Billingsley for his service as TFD's Medical Director and his dedication in supporting the Tacoma Fire Department, our members, and the community. 

In 1967, Dr. James Billingsley knocked on the door of our training center to ask whether the Tacoma Fire Department might be interested in starting a high-quality paramedic service to benefit the citizens of Tacoma. The answer must have been yes because the first TFD paramedic class would graduate in 1973, just one year after Washington State law changed to allow paramedics to perform physician-level skills without a physician being present on the scene of the emergency.

During his tenure with the Tacoma Fire Department, Dr. Billingsley has advised seven fire chiefs—a third of all the fire chiefs in the history of the department—assistant chiefs of EMS, medical services officers and, of course, every firefighter who has served as a TFD paramedic. In his role as our medical director, he has provided leadership, guidance, quality assurance, and medical oversight to ensure that the citizens of Tacoma received emergency care of the highest quality.

Dr. Billingsley’s involvement with the community has been broad and deep. He served as medical director of St. Joseph, St. Clare, and St. Francis hospitals and practiced pulmonary and critical medicine until 1999. He has been involved with the health department in tuberculosis treatment, and the Blood Bank as their medical director, serving as a board member for 25 years. He has been active in aviation, both as a pilot and as a medical focus. He served on the boards for Tacoma Twins Baseball and the Tacoma Youth Symphony.

We are grateful and honored that Dr. Billingsley’s longest involvement has been with the organization closest to his heart, the Tacoma Fire Department. We wish Dr. Billingsley the best as he begins his retirement at the end of this year. Although we will fill his medical director’s role in order to continue his legacy, Dr. James G. Billingsley will always be the patron saint of the Tacoma Fire Department and EMS patients in our community.   

1st TFD Paramedic Class 1973