Safe disposal of your Christmas Tree

TFD encourages you to remove and recycle your natural Christmas tree as soon as possible.  Never burn the tree, decorations or wrapping paper in your fireplace or woodstove. 

Facts and Figures

According to the National Fire Protection Association:

• Between 2006-2010, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 230 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires caused an average of 4 deaths, 21 injuries, and $17.3 million in direct property damage annually.

• Christmas tree fires are not common, but when they occur, they are likely to be serious. On average, one of every 66 reported fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in death.

For those living in the City of Tacoma...

Landfill drop-off: Residents, apartment tenants and businesses in Tacoma may dispose of undecorated and unflocked trees free by bringing them to the recycling center at the City of Tacoma Landfill (3510 S. Mullen St). Trees may be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 26 through Jan. 21. The landfill will be closed Jan. 1. Apartment managers or landlords who collect tenants’ trees may drop them off all at once for free, but are encouraged to call (253) 591-5543 in advance. Tree lot operators and nonprofit groups must pay for disposal.

Curbside collection: Solid Waste Management will collect only trees that have been cut and placed inside the brown yard waste container with the lid closed flat. Trees left next to containers will not be collected. Tacoma residents may recycle Christmas trees free at the Tacoma Landfill’s Recycling Center (3510 S. Mullen St.), Dec. 26 through Jan. 21. Decorated or flocked trees cannot be recycled and must go in the garbage. Customers with questions about Christmas tree recycling may call (253) 591-5543.

TFD food drive supports YWCA Women's Shelter - 2012

An annual event since 2003, Tacoma Fire Department takes great pride in supporting our local YWCA Women's Shelter. Firefighters and YWCA staff created a human supply chain to unload and stock over 3,500 pounds of non-perishable staples, toiletries and infant care items that TFD employees donated to help support program participants in the coming months.

"In some ways, both of our teams work as first responders. We see tragedy, crisis and sometimes the worst of human nature. But partnering together to make people's lives better is truly what this season is about; it is a reflection of the best of human nature," said Karin White-Tautfest, Director of Shelter and Advocacy Services.

Established in 1906, the YWCA Pierce County has devoted over a century to creating opportunity and safety for women and children in our community. A forerunner in the domestic violence service provision field, the YWCA established Washington State's first domestic violence shelter in 1976.

Two injured in semi versus auto collision on 12th Street in Fife

Incident Date: 12/12/12
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 5310 12th Street East
Incident Type:  Motor Vehicle Crash

Narrative:  At 10:30 a.m. Tacoma Firefighters responded to a reported auto versus semi-truck accident. 

Companies arrived to find a van had been struck by a semi-truck and pushed into the side of on office building.  Complicating patient extrication was the threat of an electrical hazard from a power pole that was sheared off in the collision and lying on top of the semi-truck. 

Crews worked quickly to stabilize the scene, remove the patients from the van and transport the two occupants to area hospitals. While the building was occupied at the time of the crash, fortunately, no one was in that particular office at the time of the accident.

TFD and Fife Police Department Incident Commanders are currently coordinating the removal of the vehicle from the building, conducting a structural assessment of the severity of damage to the building, and keeping the scene clear and safe as public utilities works on restoring the power to the area.

   

Requests for Service - November 2012

November 2012
Dispatch totals for TFD & CPFR response area

9-1-1 Dispatch Totals	November	YTD 2012	YTD 2011
FCC Total Calls Received	7,000	80,601	78,110
FCC Total Fire Companies Dispatched	9,014	105,237	104,922

TFD Incidents by Initial Dispatch Type

TFD - Incidents	November	YTD 2012	YTD 2011
Fire Incidents	66	1,429	1,368
Emergency Medical Incidents	2,559	29,268	27,830
All Other Incidents	430	5,754	5,953
Total Incidents by Type	3,055	36,451	35,153

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Oily Rags Spark Apartment Fire on Division Ave

Incident Date: 12/7/12
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Incident Location: 1617 Division Ave
Incident Type: Residential Structure

Narrative: At 1:56 a.m. seven companies of Tacoma Firefighters (four engines, one ladder, one medic company, a safety officer and command staff) responded to a reported apartment fire.

Arriving companies found a first floor apartment fully charged with smoke and fire. Crews worked swiftly to attack the fire that had burned through the floor into the basement of the building, ventilate the smoke from the area, and alert and evacuate occupants in neighboring units. The fire was contained to the apartment of origin and there were no injuries to report.

The vacant apartment was under remodel and the cause of the fire was determined to be spontaneous combustion of oily rags left in a metal can. The fire resulted in an estimated $75,000 dollars damage to the building and its contents.

Rescued Barn Owl released to wild

Tacoma Firefighters were on hand yesterday to watch the release of a recently rescued Barn Owl.  The adult male owl has been recuperating at the Sarvey Wildlife Care Center, (Arlington, Washington) for injuries sustained while ensnared in old fishing line left dangling from a tree on the banks of the Puyallup River.   After four weeks of convalescence, the fully recovered owl was released near the river at dusk last night. 

"Tried & True" recipe for a safe Thanksgiving!

According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the leading day for home cooking fires, with three times as many occurring on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year!

Tacoma Fire Department encourages everyone to follow this "tried and true" recipe for a safe holiday.

When it comes to cooking:

• Keep a close watch on your cooking. Never leave cooking food unattended.
• Keep oven food packaging and combustibles away from burners and heat sources.
• Heat cooking oil slowly and watch it closely; it can ignite quickly.
• Have a "kid-free zone" of at least three-feet around the stove.
• Keep a lid nearby to smother small grease fires.
• Make sure you have a working smoke alarms.