Technical Rescue Near the Puyallup River

Incident Date: August 16, 2010

Issuing Officer: Toryono Green

Incident Location: 20th St E/Pacific Hwy E, Tacoma

Incident Type: Technical Rescue

At 6:25pm today, the Tacoma Fire Department responded to a call for a man over the bank of the Puyallup river. The call for help came from the victim using a cell phone.  A total of an engine company, a ladder company, a medic company, a technical rescue unit, command units, and a safety unit responded.

Guided by the victims instructions via cell phone to the dispatch center, the responding fire department personnel were able to locate the victim along the bank of the river. Once the technical rescue systems were in place, the victim was assisted to the road above the bank. The victim was evaluated by EMS personnel and was not transported to a local medical facility.

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Save the Date - September 11, 2010

The Tacoma Fire Department Honor Guard invites you to join us for the 9th anniversary “Remembering 9/11” ceremony.  The event begins at  9:00 a.m. Saturday September 11, at the Tacoma Fire Fighters Memorial at 3301 Ruston Way.

We Have Not Forgotten

TFD Responds to Chlorine Alarm

Incident Date: August 15, 2010

Issuing Officer: Toryono Green
Incident Location: 2001 Thorne Rd, Tacoma
Incident Type: Hazardous Materials Response

At 2:55pm today, the Tacoma Fire Department received a call reporting a chlorine alarm activation at 2001 Thorne Rd.  A total of two engine companies, a ladder company, a hazardous material unit, a command unit, and a safety unit responded. After fire department arrival and a joint investigation with plant personnel, it was discovered that there was a power failure at the plant.  Although the facility's alarm system indicated a minor detection of chlorine, fire department detection equipment found no readable traces of chlorine outside of the plant.

It is unclear whether the alarm was activated by chlorine or the power failure.  Tacoma Public Utilities restored power to the plant and plant personnel returned the facility to its normal state.  The plant was unoccupied at the time of the incident.  There were no injuries.
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Suspicious Powder Incident

Incident Date: August 4, 2010
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke, Dan Crotty
Incident Location: 737 Fawcett Ave.
Incident Type: Hazardous Materials Response

At 2:20pm today, a Tacoma Fire Department engine company was dispatched to investigate a report of an unidentified powder found in a piece of mail at the Multicare administrative offices located at 737 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma.

Shortly after arrival, the engine company officer requested a full hazardous materials response. A total of 4 engine companies, 2 ladder companies, 2 medic units, a hazardous materials unit and several command and safety units responded.

Firefighters evacuated 197 Multicare employees while Haz-Mat teams secured the unidentified powder for testing. Four Pierce Transit buses were called to the scene to provided shelter for the evacuated employees while several tests were conducted to determine if the powder was dangerous.

As per protocol's, the 10th Civil Support Team from Camp Murray was called to confirm the initial test results.

At approximately 7:30 p.m., testing confirmed that powder was not dangerous and the employees were released.

No one was hurt during the operation, TFD officials said.

Law enforcement is investigating the source of the package.

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National Night Out Festivities

Tacoma Fire Department was honored to be a part of numerous Neighborhood gatherings throughout the city of Tacoma last night. The 27th Annual event is designed to promote neighborhood spirit and heighten awareness to crime prevention efforts. Last year, an estimated 37 million people participated in the event nationally.

TFD was invited to participate in 83 neighborhood events last night, including our informative vehicle extrication demonstration (removing a trapped patient with the "jaws of life" tools) during Tuesday night’s festivities at the Fircrest Park. Thank you for all who helped make this a great evening.

Fireworks Related House Fire

Incident Date: July 5, 2010
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 1431 E. 30th Street
Incident Type: Residential Structure Fire

Narrative: At 1:14 a.m. seven companies of Tacoma Firefighters, 5 engines, 1 ladder, 1 medic unit and command staff responded to a reported house fire.

First arriving companies found fire showing from both floors of the vacant 2 story 1,000 square foot house. Crews fought the fire with hand lines, and concentrated on protecting the nearby house from exposure damage.

Fire investigators determined that the cause of the fire was fireworks. The fire resulted in $82,000 of property and contents damage to the primary structure and $2,000 damage to the neighboring occupied house. There were no injuries to report.

Just A Reminder...

Tacoma Fire Department offers this reminder - fireworks are prohibited in Tacoma.

All fireworks are illegal within the Tacoma city limits and violators of the fireworks law are subject to a fine and the confiscation of their fireworks.

Most fireworks violations are class 2 civil infractions and can result in a $257 fine; citizens using fireworks are still subject to arrest for other charges (i.e. arson, reckless burning, and assault). Fireworks are only permissible within city limits when a permit has been issued for a sanctioned public event.

Citizen’s can report fireworks violations from July 1 to July 6 by calling (253) 798-4722. If the fireworks violation appears to put people or property in immediate danger, call 911.

For more information on fireworks, visit TFD's web site or the Washington State Fire Marshal's Office.