Hazardous Condition Call - Industry Drive East, Fife

Incident Date: 3/24/11
Issuing Officer: Tory Green & Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 3500 Industry Drive East
Incident Type: Hazardous Condition

Narrative: At 7:28 a.m. ten companies of Tacoma Firefighters (4 engines, 2 ladders, 2 medic companies, the HazMat Unit and command staff) responded to a reported hazardous condition in an industrial warehouse.

First arriving companies found several employees reporting feeling sick due to a strong unidentified odor. Upon further investigation it was determined that a floor refinishing operation in an adjacent portion of the building was causing the smell. Paramedic's evaluated the occupants and crews ventilated the building. The Hazardous Materials team determined that the product did not represent a significant health or explosion hazard and there were no injuries to report.

Tacoma Avenue Commercial Fire

Incident Date: 3/18/2011
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 2323 Tacoma Ave South
Incident Type: Commercial Structure Fire

Narrative:  At 7:20 a.m., 10 companies of Tacoma Firefighters (5 engines, 2 Ladders, 2 Medic Units, and Command Staff) responded to a reported commercial structure fire.

First arriving companies found smoke showing from the front and rear side of the two story business occupancy.  In a well coordinated attack, crews extinguished the fire that had broken out in the lower level, ventilated the building and conducted search and rescue. The buildings businesses were unoccupied at the time of the fire.

There were no injuries to report and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

UPDATE: The fire was caused by overloaded electrical wiring that was related to a Medical Marijuana grow operation, resulting in an estimated $50,000 dollars damage to the building and its contents.

Residential House Fire on E. 62nd Street and Apartment Fire at Tanara Villa

Incident Date: March 17, 2011
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 1022 E. 62nd Street
Incident Type: Residential Structure Fire

Narrative: At 1:53 a.m. 7 units of Firefighters (4 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Medic Unit and Command Staff) responded to a reported house fire.

The first arriving company found fire and smoke showing from the rear of the approximately 1300 sq foot single story structure. Crews quickly attacked and knocked down the fire that had broken out in a back bedroom of the house. The home’s occupants escaped without harm, and there were no injuries to report.

The cause of the fire was an overheated extension cord, resulting an estimated $25,000 dollars damage to the home and its contents.

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Incident Date: March 17, 2011

Incident Location: 6322 N. 26th Street - Tanara Villa Apartments

Incident Type: Apartment Fire

Narrative: At 3:03 a.m. 9 units of Firefighters (4 Engines, 2 Ladders, 2 Medic Units and Command Staff) responded to a reported apartment fire.

First arriving companies found smoke showing from a first floor apartment unit in the two-story multifamily dwelling.  Crews mounted an aggressive interior attack and contained the fire to the unit of origin. One person was transported to a local area hospital as a result of the incident. 
 
The cause of the fire is undetermined, resulting in 1 injury and an estimated $30,000 in damage to the building and its contents.

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Tacoma Fire awarded SAFER Grant

The Department of Homeland Security has awarded $1,566,699 to the Tacoma Fire Department from the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to bolster firefighter staffing levels.

The SAFER grant provides funding to departments to help them increase the number of trained front-line firefighters available in their communities. The grant will enable the department to hire 10 new firefighters to help meet the demands for emergency calls and nationally recognized standards for safe and effective firefighter staffing.

“Being selected for this grant award is significant for our community,” said Fire Chief Ron Stephens. “This funding will help us continue to provide a fast, safe and effective response to the variety of emergency incidents in our community.”

According to U.S. Senator Patty Murray, “Firefighters across Washington State put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities and families safe. I am very glad that the City of Tacoma received this grant to put 10 new firefighters on the job. I am going to keep working with local communities to make sure they have the resources they need to protect their families.”

The Tacoma Fire Department was selected from over 2,100 applicants nationally and is currently one of only four recipients from Washington State.

North Visscher Street House Fire

Incident Date: February 27, 2011
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 4914 N. Visscher St
Incident Type: Residential Structure Fire

Narrative:  At 4:01 a.m. 7 Units of Tacoma Firefighters (4 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Medic Unit and Command Staff) responded to a reported house fire.

First arriving companies found a fully involved fire in the single story 840 square foot turn of the century bungalow.  Crews attacked the fire with 1 3/4 hose lines, ventilated the structure and rescued the family's dog.  All of the occupants made it out safely, and there were no injuries to report.

The cause of the fire was overheated wiring, resulting in an estimated $80,000 damage to the building and it's contents.


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Overnight Fire In Popular Mexican Restaurant

Incident Date: 2/13/2011
Issuing Officer: Jolene Davis
Incident Location: 2630 S. 38th Street
Incident Type: Commercial Structure Fire

Narrative: At 10:39 p.m. 9 companies of Tacoma Firefighters (5 engines, 2 ladders, 2 medics and command staff) responded to a report of a commercial structure fire in a restaurant.

First arriving companies found smoke showing from the roof area of the approximately 2,000 sqaure foot single story building.  Crews attacked the fire that had broken out in the "overhead area" (the space between the ceiling and the roof area) with handlines, ventilated the heavy smoke layer and searched the building for occupants. 

The cause of the fire is currently undetermined and it resulted in an estimated $50,000 damage to the building and it's contents.  Their were no injuries to report.   

Burn Awareness Week February 6-12, 2011

According to the American Burn Association and Shriners Children’s Hospital,

about 95 percent of scald burns (which are caused by hot liquids, steam or foods) occur in the home. Scalds are the most common burn injury among young children and the leading cause of accidental death in the home for children under age 4. U.S. hospitals treat an estimated 16,000 children under 5 for scalds every year.

Here are some recommendations to help prevent scald injuries.

- Lower the temperature settings on water heaters to 120° F (49° C) or less.

- Install anti-scald devices on water faucets and shower heads.

- Use knob covers on faucets.

- Create “kid free zones” in the kitchen near the stove.

Additional resources:
NW Burn Foundation
Center for Disease Control
Safe Kids

Home Safety Council