Fireboat Destiny rescues one off McNeil Island

Incident Date:  10/13/12
Issuing Officer:  BC Dyre Fudge
Incident Location:  NW tip of McNeil Island
Incident Type: Water Rescue

Narrative:  At 6:42 p.m. Tacoma firefighters responded to a mutual aid request for assistance with a water rescue off McNeil Island in South Puget Sound.

Initial reports were that two people aboard a 14 foot skiff capsized and were stranded in the cold waters off the northwest tip of McNeil Island. Fireboat Destiny arrived in the area and coordinated a parallel search with the Anderson Island fireboat that had just arrived on scene.  After searching for about 10 minutes, the crew from the Destiny located one adult clinging to the skiff, pulled them to safety and helped transfer the patient to local responders.  The second adult from the skiff was able to swim to shore and was found safe on the beach.

Requests for Service September 2012

September 2012
Dispatch totals for TFD & CPFR response area

9-1-1 Dispatch Totals	September	YTD 2012	YTD 2011
FCC Total Calls Received	7,542	66,389	64,624
FCC Total Fire Companies Dispatched	9,909	86,659	86,751

TFD Incidents by Initial Dispatch Type

TFD - Incidents	September	YTD 2012	YTD 2011
Fire Incidents	212	1,228	1,209
Emergency Medical Incidents	2,602	24,005	22,897
All Other Incidents	403	4,894	4,856
Total Incidents by Type	3,217	30,127	28,962

HTML Tables

Join us at fire station open houses during Fire Prevention Week 2012.

Residents can celebrate Fire Prevention Week by visiting six neighborhood fire stations from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, October 13. This year’s theme, “have two ways out,” encourages everyone to team up and spread the message that fire safety saves lives!

Equipment will be on display and firefighters will answer questions about escape planning, fire safety and disaster preparedness.

The following six stations will host open houses:

Station 3 -   206 Browns Point Blvd, NE Tacoma
Station 4 -   1453 S. 12th (Earnest S Brazil St), Hilltop
Station 11 - 3802 McKinley Ave., McKinley Hill
Station 13 - 3825 N. 25th, Proctor
Station 16 - 7217 6th Ave., Skyline/West End District
Station 17 - 302 Regents Blvd., Fircrest

For more information on the activities hosted at each station, call the Tacoma Fire Department Fire Prevention Division at 591-5740. We look forward to seeing you there!

Technical Rescue Training – Spotlight on Trench Rescue

Firefighters on TFD’s Technical Rescue team were hard at work last week practicing the operational aspects of trench rescue. Typical trench rescue scenarios involve scene stabilization, shoring up the sides of a trench and digging a trapped person out of a collapsed ditch.

Firefighters drilled on how to use waler systems to protect an open space inside a trench.  They also practiced lifting a heavy object at the bottom of a trench, and working around a piece of equipment such as a backhoe, or excavator that may have failed and is still in the trench.

“Trench rescue is one of the most dangerous operations we respond to," said Training Captain Lee Law. “Hands-on training is a great tool to help our personnel be well equipped to save someone trapped, while ensuring firefighter safety during these high risk operations.”

TFD's Technical Rescue team is trained to conduct rope, trench, confined space, structural collapse and vehicle/machinery rescues.

City Manager appoints interim Fire Chief James P. Duggan to permanent position

Chief James P. Duggan

City Manager T.C. Broadnax announced the appointment of James P. Duggan to the permanent position of Tacoma Fire Chief. Duggan has been serving on an interim basis for the past six months. Duggan will assume command of his new role effective immediately.

“Fire services remain a top priority in City core services. I am confident Chief Duggan’s experience and leadership will help the Fire Department continue to provide the highest level of fire and emergency services to the citizens of Tacoma,” said Broadnax.

As the chief administrator of the Fire Department, Duggan will plan, direct, manage and oversee daily operations and all aspects of emergency services including implementing strategic plans and procedures, establishing efficient service delivery methods and response time mechanisms, and tracking the department’s budget.

“I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve the community as Fire Chief. I look forward to leading this great department through these challenging times,” said Duggan.

During his tenure as interim, Duggan worked to launch department-wide initiatives focused on identifying and implementing fire service industry best practices; restructured the roles and responsibilities of the operations bureaus; and adopted the “FD Cares Program” as an alternative resource for 9-1-1 callers. Prior to his interim position, Duggan served as assistant fire chief for six years managing the Emergency Medical Services Division.

Over his 29-year career with the Tacoma Fire Department, Duggan was the first medical services officer and has also served as paramedic supervisor, fireboat pilot and firefighter.

A native of Tacoma, Chief Duggan holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the University of Washington, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Puget Sound, and attended graduate school at M.I.T. Duggan is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and Washington State Fire Chiefs.

Chief Duggan is the 21st Fire Chief in the departments 123 year history.

NEWS RELEASE from the City of Tacoma, Washington

Firefighters rescue a person stranded on the cliffside in Pt. Defiance Park

Incident Date: 8/25/12
Issuing Officer: BC Gary Steinhoff & BC Jim Scott
Incident Location: Point Defiance Park
Incident Type: Rope Rescue

Narrative:  At 7:33 p.m. Tacoma firefighters responded for a reported person trapped on the hillside in Point Defiance Park near the Gig Harbor lookout area. 

Crews arrived to find one person stuck a short distance down the embankment.  As the tide came in the person climbed the steep bank in the dark, but got stuck near the top of the hill where the incline becomes vertical and impassible.  Crews set up a high-angle rope rescue system, sent a firefighter over the edge to harness the person and pull them to safety. 

The person was evaluated and released at the scene with no injuries to report. 

    

Crews extinguish house fire on N. Stevens Street

Incident Date: 9/25/12
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 1601 N. Stevens
Incident Type: Residential Structure Fire

Narrative:  At 10:42 a.m. seven companies of Tacoma Firefighters (four engines, one ladder, one medic company and command staff) responded to a reported house fire.

The first arriving engine company found heavy smoke showing from the back and side of 1,256 one-story house with a basement.  Crews made a rapid interior attack with handlines, ventilated the structure of smoke and completed search and rescue.  No occupants were home at the time of the fire and there are no injuries to report.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.  

UPDATE:  Fire investigators have determined that the cause of the fire was a pet's heat lamp in contact with combustibles, resulting in an estimated $150,000 damage to the building and its contents.