Spotlight on Safety...

Narrative: On Saturday, October 24th, Tacoma Fire Department (TFD) presented an informative class on boat and marina safety to liveaboard residents and boats owners at the Foss Harbor Marina. Boat fires are particularly dangerous and a fire on one boat can turn quickly turn into the loss of numerous boats or even a whole marina. Participants at today's class learned about:

*The proper use of marine-approved cord sets.
*Smoke Alarms and CO2 detectors.
*The proper use of portable Fire Extinguishers.
*General Fire and Life safety precautions.

The Fire Boat Commencement was also on scene and provided tours of one of our most unique pieces of firefighting equipment. Visit the US Coast Guard for additional information about boating safety.

Commercial Structure Fire Update

Incident Type: Commercial Structure Fire
Incident Location: 220 S. 27th Street
Probable Cause: Undetermined
Damage Estimates: $45,000 Building $35,000 Contents
Injuries: None

UPDATE: Fire Investigators have concluded that the cause of today's fire at the Teamsters Hall & Offices at 220 S. 27th St. is undetermined. The damage estimates for the building and contents is approximately $80,000.

Commercial Structure Fire

Incident Date: 10/20/09
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke 253.255.3260
Incident Type: Commercial Structure Fire
Incident Location: 220 S. 27th St.
Probable Cause: Undetermined
Damages: Undetermined
Injuries: None

Narrative: At 2:57 a.m. Tuesday October 20, 2009, 9 companies of Tacoma Firefighters - 5 Engines, 2 Ladders and 2 Medic Units responded to a reported commercial l structure fire at 220 S. 27th Street. The first arriving units found heavy smoke and fire showing from the first floor of the local Teamsters Hall & Offices.

Crews attacked the fire with hand lines, conducted primary search procedures and checked for fire extension into the second floor of the building. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and there were no injuries to report.

Commercial Structure Fire Response

Incident Date: 10/17/2009

Issuing Officer: AC Faith Mueller

Incident Type: Commercial Structure Fire

Incident Location: 306 East 26th Street

Probable Cause: Undetermined

Narrative: Tacoma Fire Department responded with 35 personnel to the report of fire and smoke at 306 East 26th Street on both floor 1 and floor 2. . First arriving companies encountered heavy smoke and fire conditions in a 50 foot by 100 foot business/apartment occupancy. Fire crews battled diligently to extinguish the blaze and ensure there were no occupants in the business and apartment dwelling. The blaze was contained just after midnight with no reported injuries.

Vehicle Extrication Training

Training Update: Members of the Tacoma Fire Department participated in a valuable vehicle extrication training exercise this week. The purpose of this training was to enhance our ability to remove people trapped in vehicles at the scene of motor vehicle crashes.

The training included scene safety, basic vehicle stabilization, tool proficiency and numerous extrication exercises. The skills practiced during these drills increases our firefighters level of readiness for this type of low frequency/high risk response.

Thanks For Participating...

This past weekend, well over 1,000 people attended Fire Station Open Houses in honor of National Fire Prevention Week and learned how to perform the life saving skill of CPR at our mass training classes on CPR Sunday at the Tacoma Elks Club.

We appreciated that so many of you stopped by to visit your neighborhood fire station and learn about fire safety. Congratulations to all of you who completed the CPR training (over 550 registered) - you now know how to use an Automatic External Defibrillator and can perform CPR! Thanks for helping make our community safer.

Fire Boat Lends Assistance

Narrative: At 5:19 a.m. Friday October 9th 2009, the Tacoma Fire Department (TFD) responded to a mutual aid call for a marina fire at Steilacoom Marina at Saltar’s point. The facility housed several non operative boats and suffered extensive damage. The crews from Fire Boat Defiance assisted in the attack from the water side as well as protected an adjacent pier.