Tacoma Firefighters Christmas Project - 2018

Tacoma Fire Department Credits Community Member for Alerting Others to Apartment Fire

The Tacoma Fire Department is crediting Mr. Jeff Christopher Dunn for alerting residents to an early 

morning fire that occurred last month at the Spanish Hills apartment complex, located at South 12th and Mildred streets. The Oct. 14 blaze caused an estimated $370,000 in damage to a three-story, 12-unit building and displaced 17 tenants.

As he arrived home that morning, Mr. Dunn noticed that one of the other buildings in the complex was on fire. As he got closer, he saw flames coming from a top floor balcony and burning material falling onto a balcony below. Mr. Dunn called 911 and made his way up the exterior stairs to the top floor of the burning building.

“At that time, the fire had extended into the building’s attic. The resident of that apartment was in bed, immediately beneath burning roof trusses. Her life was at risk,” said Fire Chief James Duggan. “Mr. Dunn went into the unit and alerted her. He guided her out of harm’s way.”

On the 911 recording, Mr. Dunn can be heard calling out, “Hey, anyone in here? There’s a fire outside. Come on now. Where you at? Come on. We got to get you out.” 

Once outside the apartment, Mr. Dunn told the Tacoma Fire dispatcher, “I’ve got the lady right now.”

“We expect people to report a fire when seeing smoke or flames,” said Chief Duggan. “Mr. Dunn, however, not only called 911, but he also personally made sure all the tenants got out.”

After escorting the first resident to safety, Mr. Dunn started pounding on the locked doors of the other units in the building. The dispatcher prompted him to locate a manual pull station in the stairwell to activate the building’s loud siren to ensure that all the tenants of that building were further alerted to the danger. No smoke alarms had been activated at that point because the fire was burning between the ceiling and the roof and on exterior balconies.

The firefighters that first arrived reported heavy smoke and flames. Shortly thereafter, the fire burned through the roof. A total of 34 firefighters from nine fire stations fought the blaze. They had the fire under control after about an hour and prevented it from spreading to the entire building. No injuries were reported.

Halloween Safety - 2018

Everyone loves a good scare on Halloween, but according to our friends at Safe Kids, on average children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any day of the year - now that is scary!

Top Tips

• Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers. 
• Since masks can sometimes obstruct a child's vision, try non-toxic face paint and makeup to get the same effect.
• Have kids carry a glow stick or flashlight to help them see and be seen by drivers.

Requests for Service Report - September 2018

TFD Incidents by Initial Dispatch Type

TFD - Incidents	September	1/1-9/31 2018	1/1-9/31 2017
Fire	108	1,459	1,350
Emergency Medical	3,168	28,965	28,485
All Other (e.g. hazardous conditions, search and rescue, automatic fire alarms)	638	5,723	5,780
Total	3,914	36,147	35,615

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Mission: To Protect People, Property & the Environment

Great Shakeout Earthquake Drill October 18, 2018

Are you prepared to act when the next big earthquake hits?

Millions of people worldwide will practice how to Drop, Cover and Hold on at 10:18 am on October 18 during Great ShakeOut drills. We are participating, and hope you are too!

Registration is open for CPR Sunday - 2018

CPR Sunday is an annual community event offered free-of-charge to anyone interested in learning the basic life-saving skills of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). On the second Sunday in October each year, participants are taught the fundamentals of CPR and then given the opportunity to practice with CPR manikins and Automated External Defibrillators (AED). 

CPR Sunday will be held Oct. 14, at Foss High School, 2112 S. Tyler St. in Tacoma.

In order to secure your preferred class time please register.

What Attendees Can Expect

• More than 50 certified Basic Life Support instructors
• 1 1/2 hours of classroom training and 1 hour of hands-on training
• Four class options: 8 AM, 10 AM, 12 PM, or 2 PM
• Practical training with CPR manikins and AED's.

What Attendees Will Learn

• What happens when you call 9-1-1
• Patient assessment
• One rescuer adult/child/infant CPR and obstructed airway
• Automated external defibrillator use
• Foreign body airway obstruction management
• Essentials of a home first aid kit
• CPR-related information/reminder list for home and wallet

Note - this class is "Citizen Level CPR" and does not meet the Washington State Health Care Provider Level card requirements.

Bystander CPR Saves a Life

On September 18, TFD was honored to recognize Ryan Fernandez and Athena Ward for their efforts in performing bystander CPR. The two initiated CPR on a person that had gone into cardiac arrest while working their shift at a local restaurant. Cardiac arrest survivor Cathy Mattson was on hand to thank the bystanders and first responders that were able to successfully revive her.

TFD offers free CPR classes twice a month, and once a year at our upcoming CPR Sunday event October 14, 2018. Please consider attending to learn how to save a life!