Spotlight on training - 28th & N. Proctor Street

Crews will be training this week at 28th & N. Proctor Street. The focus will be on ground ladder, vertical ventilation and forcible entry operations.

Outdoor Fire Regulations

With summer approaching, the Tacoma Fire Department offers the following reminder regarding outdoor fire regulations. Note - all outdoor fires are prohibited during air quality or fire safety burn bans (with the exception of when Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) used as the fuel). 

PORTABLE FIRE DEVICES with OPEN FLAME:  A non-combustible device such as a fire pit, fire bowl or chiminea that contains the fire. Use conditions:

• Only clean natural firewood, charcoal, manufactured fire logs or LPG are permissible fuels.
• Fire extinguisher with rating of 4-A or greater, or a charged hose with a nozzle attached is required to be readily available.
• 15 foot distance from any structure is required.
• Fire shall be attended at all times.

RECREATIONAL FIRE:  A recreational fire where the fuel is not contained in an outdoor fireplace, barbecue grill or barbecue pit and has a total fuel area of 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth or similar purposes. Additionally, the fire is not being conducted on public property where fires are prohibited, such as in a park or on school grounds. Fires in parks are only allowed where specifically authorized and where appropriate burning receptacles are provided. Use conditions:

• Only clean natural firewood, charcoal or manufactured fire logs are permissible fuels.
• Fire extinguisher with a rating of 4-A or greater, or a charged hose with a nozzle attached is required to be readily available.
• 25 foot distance from any structure is required.
• If wind creates a hazard of fire spread the fire shall be extinguished.
• Vegetation or other combustible material creating a path for fire spread shall be removed prior to starting the fire.
• Fire shall be attended by an adult at all times.
• Not permitted during a burn ban.

FUEL RESTRICTIONS:

• Burning yard waste is illegal.
• Burning garbage is illegal.
• Burning cardboard or paper, except to start a fire is illegal.
• Burning building materials i.e. scrap wood, paint, vinyl flooring, roofing, carpet etc. is illegal.
• Burning dead animals is illegal.
• Burning of plastic, rubber, trash or other prohibited fuel may constitute an unauthorized release of hazardous material to the atmosphere.

PERMITS REQUIRED from the Tacoma Fire Department:

• A BONFIRE permit (under the special events tab) is required for open fires with a fuel volume exceeding 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height with more restrictive conditions. There is a permit fee associated with this activity. Please complete the Bonfire Permit, or call 253.591.5740.
• A permit is not required for ceremonial underground cooking fires.
• A permit is not required for recreational fires as previously defined.

ENFORCEMENT

• All illegal or unattended fires shall be extinguished immediately.
• Causing a nuisance is illegal. If the smoke from the fire bothers the neighbors, damages their property or otherwise causes a nuisance, the fire shall be extinguished.
• Violation of a Burn Ban Order is subject to citation from the Tacoma Fire Department and Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.
• Burning illegal fuel is subject to citation from the Tacoma Fire Department and Puget Sound Clean Air.
• Violation of the Fire Code is a misdemeanor with penalties up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail.
• Puget Sound Clean Air penalties start at $2,000 to a maximum of $17,000 for each occurrence.
• For more information about burn bans visit the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency web site @ www.pscleanair.org or 1-800-552-3565.

House fire displaces 9 in Northeast Tacoma

Incident Date:  5/19/14
Issuing Officer:  Joe Meinecke
Incident Location:  5509 34th St. LP NE
Incident Type: House fire

Narrative:  At 11:53 am, firefighters from stations 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 12 responded to a reported house fire.

The first arriving company found flames and smoke showing from the two-story approximately 1,760 square foot residence. Firefighters made an aggressive interior attack of the fire which appeared to have originated in the kitchen area and spread to the attic space. Crews ventilated the roof and conducted a search to confirm that no one was trapped inside the structure.

All occupants were able to escape without harm and there were no injuries to report. The Red Cross was requested for relocation assistance for the 4 adults and 5 children displaced in the fire.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

UPDATE: Fire investigators confirmed that the fire started in the kitchen and resulted in an estimated $120,000 damage to the building and its contents.

Recruits hone firefighting skills in live fire training burn

On Thursday May 15, 2014 Tacoma Fire Department conducted a training burn of a house located at 1221 East 26th Street.

Live fire training in a controlled environment is a valuable tool to develop firefighting skills. Twenty-four firefighter recruits participated in a variety of drills throughout the day. Training objectives focused on interior fire attack, ventilation (smoke removal) and search and rescue.

TFD observing a moment of silence in memory of firefighter Al Nejmeh

Tacoma Fire Department is observing a moment of silence at noon today in memory of the one year anniversary of the line-of-duty death of firefighter Al Nejmeh.

Albert A. Nejmeh 1953-2013
Gone but not forgotten

Suspicious fire heavily damages vacant house on E. 61st.

Incident Date:  5/11/14

Issuing Officer:  Joe Meinecke & BC Ray Manglona 

Incident Location:  815 E. 61st St

Incident Type:  Residential house fire

Narrative:  At 3:00 am, firefighters from stations 2, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 15 responded to a reported house fire. 

The first arriving company found heavy flames and smoke showing from a vacant two-story approximately 1,760 square foot residence. Operationally, the incident commander used a defensive strategy (the house was vacant, under remodel and the fire had spread throughout the building) and directed crews attention to protecting the adjacent occupied house next door. Several handlines and the deployment of an aerial master stream were used to contain the fire to the building of origin. 

There were no injuries to report and the cause of the fire was determined to be intentionally set. The incident has been turned over to Tacoma Police Department for follow-up. The fire caused an estimated $160,000 to the building and its contents, and $2,000 damage to the house next door. 

Captain Scott Nicholson directing FF Shannon Gibson on the aerial nozzle attack

 

  

Requests for Service Report - April 2014

TFD Incidents by Initial Dispatch Type

TFD - Incidents	April	2014 (YTD)	2013 (YTD)
Fire	77	298	347
Emergency Medical	2,837	11,256	10,272
All Other (e.g. hazardous conditions, search and rescue, automatic fire alarms)	426	1,757	1,725
Total	3,340	13,311	12,344

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