Fatality Semi-Truck Fire

Incident Date: 12/2/2010
Issuing Officer: Jolene Davis and Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 424 E 19th St

Incident Type: Fatality Semi-Truck Fire

Narrative: At 2:09 a.m. 4 companies for Tacoma Firefighters, 3 engines, 1 ladder and command staff responded to a reported semi-truck fire with explosions.

First arriving crews found a semi-truck and trailer fully involved in fire. Firefighters used hose lines and Class B foam to contain the fire to one vehicle. After the fire was extinguished, crews found one deceased person in the cab of the truck.

Tacoma Police and TFD fire investigators are currently working to determine the cause and origin of the fire and what caused the fatality.

A positive identification of the deceased person, as well as the cause and manner of their death will be determined by the Pierce County Medical Examiner.

Industrial Accident - Tide Flats

Incident Date: November 30, 2010
Issuing Officer: Jolene Davis
Incident Location: 2502 Marine View Drive
Incident Type: Technical Rescue

Narrative: At 7:41 a.m. 6 companies of Tacoma Firefighters, 1 Engine, 2 Ladders, 2 Medic Units, the department's Technical Recue Unit, and command staff responded to a reported industrial accident.

Crews conducted a technical rescue of a person who had been injured atop a 30 foot tall wood chip hopper. One person was transported to a local area hospital as a result of the incident.

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 licenced 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.

Thanksgiving Fires Are Preventable

As you prepare for the Thanksgiving Holiday, Tacoma Fire Department encourages everyone to follow this "tried and true" recipe for a safe celebration.   

According to data from United States Fire Administration, an estimated 2,000 Thanksgiving Day fires (in residential buildings) occur annually in the United States, resulting in an estimated average of five deaths, 25 injuries and $21 million in property loss each year. The majority of these fires are related to making the wonderful holiday feast.

When it comes to cooking:

• Keep a close watch on your cooking. You should never leave cooking food unattended.
• Keep oven food packaging and other combustibles away from burners and heat sources.

• Heat cooking oil slowly and watch it closely; it can ignite quickly.
• Don't wear loose sleeves while working over hot stove burners - they can melt, ignite or catch on handles of pots and pans spilling hot oil and other liquids.
• Have a "kid-free zone" of at least three-feet around the stove and areas where hot foods or drinks are prepared or carried.
• Keep a lid nearby to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stove top. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.
• Make sure you have smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area, and in every bedroom. Test smoke alarms monthly and replace them if they are 10 years old or older.  

Transit Bus Rollover Crash

Incident Date: November 22, 2010
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: S. 19th and S. Jefferson Street

Incident Type: Transit Bus Rollover

Narrative: At 10:40 a.m. TFD units were dispatched to a reported Pierce County Transit Bus Rollover accident. First arriving companies found a bus that had slid off the road, struck a retaining wall and rolled on its side at one of the entrances to the University of Washington Tacoma campus.

Approximately 15-20 people were on the bus at the time of the accident, and medic crews evaluated and transported 10 of those passengers to local area hospitals as a result of their injuries.

No students or by-standers were injured in the crash.

November 15th Wind Storm

Incident Date: November 15, 2010
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: Area Wide
Incident Type: Wind Storm

Narrative: At approximately 9:00 p.m., a wide spread high wind storm swept through the greater Tacoma area causing numerous power outages and knocking several trees down. TFD relied on it's back-up generators to power several fire stations and our dispatch center, during the outage. Tacoma Fire Communications Center dispatched units to 47 incidents (in Tacoma's response area) between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

The majority of these calls were for downed power lines and fallen trees, but they also included calls for people trapped in elevators or offices, and a boat house that broke loose in the narrows marina and drifted into a dock.  Fortunately, there were no injuries to report to citizen's or firefighters.

Storms like these illustrate the value of having a family disaster preparedness kit and remember that in the event of an extended power outage, use flashlights instead of candles (fire hazard) for light and never bring your barbecue indoors to heat or cook with (carbon monoxide poisoning).

A Bird Stuck in A Tree?

Tacoma Fire Department recently responded to a request for assistance for a "bird stuck in a tree...".  How could a "bird be stuck in a tree" you ask?  Upon arrival, the crew from TFD's Ladder 3 had their answer.

A Falconer was training a wild Red Tailed Hawk by tethering it to a very long, thin cord and letting it practice flying back and forth.  Unfortunately on one of the flights, the cord got caught up high in the branches of a large maple tree near the duck pond at Point Defiance Park.

Ladder 3's crew extended a 35' ground ladder allowing a firefighter to climb up, unhook the tangled tether, and re-hook their own rope to carry the hawk down safely. 

All-in all a successful operation, with no injuries to report to the falcon or firefighters.    



Ladder-3 (C-Shift), Captain Tom Zurfluh, Firefighter Ted Wold, Firefighter Zach Prida (on ladder)