Jenny Reed Elementary Incident

Incident Date: April 15, 2010
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: Jenny Reed Elementary School 1803 S. 38th Street
Incident Type: Mass Medical Incident

Narrative: At 10:30 a.m. Thursday April 15, 2010, 4 Engines, 2 Ladders, 2 Medic Units, several Rural Metro Units and Command Staff responded to the report of a noxious order or possible natural gas leak at Jenny Reed Elementary School.

Initially, a single engine company was dispatched (@10:01 a.m.) to investigate an "odor" problem at the school. The first arriving company could not identify any apparent natural gas leaks, but did find a number of students and staff complaining of feeling sick. The incident was quickly upgraded to a mass medical incident - the school was evacuated, a triage process was established that identified 25 patients, medical evaluations were given and 11 of those patients were transported to local area hospitals.

The cause of the incident remains undetermined. Air monitors were used to search the building for potential harmful conditions but revealed no threats and the natural gas company also conducted a thorough examination of their equipment and found no gas leak.

The building was re-evacuated later in the afternoon as a precautionary measure and still no toxic gases or conditions were identified.

Roll-Over Motor Vehicle Crash

Incident Date: 4/14/10
Issuing Officer: Jolene Davis
Incident Location: 1500 South Sprague
Incident Type: Roll over motor vehicle crash

Narrative: At 3:15 pm, Wednesday, April 14, 2010, Tacoma Fire Department Engine 9, Ladder 1, Medic 4 and Command staff responded to a 2 car roll over motor vehicle crash with entrapment at the intersection of South 15th and Sprague street. First arriving crews found 2 badly damaged vehicles, with injured patients.

Firefighters worked quickly to remove and treat the patients, then stabilize the vehicles. One occupant from each vehicle was transported to area hospitals for treatment.

Tacoma Police briefly closed that intersection.

Nalley Valley Construction Incident

Incident Date: 4/13/2010
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 2000 block of Center Street
Incident Type: Technical Rescue

Narrative: At 2:31 p.m. Tuesday April 13, 2010, five companies of Tacoma Firefighters, 1 Engine, 1 Ladder, 1 Medic unit, Command Staff and the Technical Rescue Team responded to a report of an injured construction worker on the top of a pier cap in the Highway 16 Nalley Valley Construction Project.

First arriving crews found one injured worker atop an 80 foot support pier. With assistance from the construction crews, lifts were used to transport TFD crews to the top of the structure, assess and stabilize the patient and to bring them down. The patient was then transported to a local area hospital.

Residential Structure Fire

Incident Date: 4/7/2010
Issuing Officer: Faith Mueller 253-573-2588
Incident Location: 5018 22nd Ave NE Tacoma
Incident Type: Residential Structure Fire

Narrative: At 12:10 p.m. Wednesday April 7, 2010, eight companies of Tacoma and South King Fire and Rescue firefighters, 5 engines, 1 ladder, 1 medic unit and command staff responded to a reported residential structure fire.

First arriving crews found the two story house fully involved, with fire showing from all sides of the house. The instability of the collapsing building lead the command staff to implement a defensive firefighting strategy. A master stream from the ladder company was set up and crews fought the fire from the exterior of the building and protected neighboring structures.

One occupant was injured in the fire and was transported to a local area hospital.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Residential Structure Fire

Incident Date: 4/5/2010
Issuing Officer: Faith Mueller- (573-2588)
Incident Type: Residential Structure Fire
Incident Location: 3745 No. 30th Street
Injuries: One

Narrative: At 4:03 p.m. Monday, April 5, eleven companies of Tacoma Firefighters- 5 Engines, 2 Ladders, 2 Medic Units and Command Staff responded to 3745 No. 30th Street for a reported residential structure fire with possible entrapment.

First arriving companies found a 2-story, residential structure with fire showing from the side of the residence and heavy smoke along the roof line. First arriving crews attacked the fire with hand lines and initiated search and rescue tactics. One occupant was found in a first floor bedroom and rescued from the residence. The patient was transported to a local area hospital.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Spill Response in the Thea Foss

Incident Date: Thursday, April 1st, 2010

Issuing Officer: Jeff Chandler

Incident Type: Spill Response

Incident Location: Thea Foss Waterway

Narrative: At 11:24 a.m. today, Engine 2, Engine 11, Fireboat Commencement and the Department of Ecology responded to the south end of the Thea Foss Waterway for a reported fuel spill.
Firefighters deployed 400 feet of oil containment boom to contain the spill to the south end of the waterway. TFD maintains two oil spill response trailers carrying a total of 1600 feet of containment boom made possible by a regional grant.

The crew of Fireboat Commencement located the suspected source of the leak and inspected the vessel to ensure the discharge had stopped. The Department of Ecology representative concluded that there was not enough fuel in the water to warrant recovery operations. TFD units returned to service at 3:12 p.m.

Technical Rescue Trench Training

One of the most potentially challenging and multidisciplined incidents fire service personnel may face is Trench Rescue. It is a dynamic environment that tends to be physically and mentally challenging due to the duration and unpredictable environment. Earlier this month Tacoma Fire Department's Technical Rescue Team conducted their monthly trench training. The goal of this training was to address rescuer safety; understanding WAC regulations covering trenches and excavations; preplanning; assessing soil composition; cave-in evaluation; stabilization and shoring using wood and air shores. Not only must the mechanical issues of stabilization be considered, but patients may also be facing traumatic injuries, hypothermia or experiencing the often forgotten complications of Crush Syndrome. Trench and excavation incidents are "Low Frequency, High Hazard" rescues. This ongoing training provides the necessary skills and knowledge for TFD's Technical Rescue Team to respond to Trench Rescue emergencies.