Health Crisis | Coronavirus Spreads in US, Outside Areas

January 26, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM) / Leave a comment

The United States has confirmed and added a fifth infected person with the coronavirus that has killed at least 50 in China, where the virus was originally reported and now spreading inside our American borders. There is a case reported in Sydney, Australia as well.

The virus, 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is classified by the CDC (US Center for Disease Control), as an unidentified respiratory first discovered in Wuhan, Hebei Province, China. Symptoms include: mild to severe respiratory illness with fever¹, cough, and difficulty breathing.

“The virus probably originally emerged from an animal source but now seems to be spreading from person-to-person. It’s important to note that person-to-person spread can happen on a continuum. Some viruses are highly contagious (like measles), while other viruses are less so. It’s not clear yet how easily 2019-nCoV spreads from person-to-person. When person-to-person spread has occurred with MERS and SARS, it is thought to have happened mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread. Spread of MERS and SARS between people has generally occurred between close contacts.” – CDC

There are about 1,000 confirmed cases reported in China.

Five cases have been identified in Arizona, California, Illinois and Washington as of January 26, 2020.

The CDC provides a list of Q&A regarding this dangerous virus. You can visit their site and read up on how to protect yourself. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html

These patients recently traveled to China.

Health organizations are saying that the general public is not in harm’s way and those that have been infected are being treated. Their conditions are improving and are being treated in a confined area.

We will provide additional details as they are received.

Fire Family Loses a Local Hero In Action

January 26, 2020January 26, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM) / Leave a comment

Blewett Pass, Washington | At around 1545 hours PST on January 23rd, fire sources from Chelan County Fire District #6, Cascade Medical Center and Deputies from the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office responded to an incident off of Blewett Pass in Washington State.

Photo Credit: Chelan County Fire District #6 / Blewett Pass FD

Image may contain: 4 people

Kimiko Nalle, 46, was found buried in snow that had fallen from home’s roof. EMS personnel attempted to revive her. Nalle was a 26-year employee with the US Forest Service working her way up to IC on a local IMT (Incident Management Team) and as a volunteer Firefighter with Chelan County Fire District 6, for 17 years.

She is survived by her husband, Chelan County Fire District 3 Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal Dave Nalle and formerly with the USFS (now retired).

There are no services or memorials scheduled yet.

If you’d like to support her family, please send cards or letters of condolences to The Nalle Family in care of Chelan County Fire District #3, 228 Chumstick Highway, Leavenworth, WA 98826. To help with financial support, you can make a donation in Kimiko’s name to The Kimiko Nalle Memorial Fund at any Cashmere Valley Bank.

Here are some of the kind words spoken about Kimiko:

“Kimiko was a fabulous neighbor and member of the fire community.”

“The world has lost a great soul. Kimiko was a strong voice of integrity and spirit.”

“I can’t believe this. Kimiko was such a great person and an asset to the fire community.”

“From Entiat to Cle Elum Kimiko provided a wealth of knowledge to our great profession. ”

Helicopter Down | MCI | Calabasas, California | 1

January 26, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM) / Leave a comment

Update 1 – Sunday – January 26, 2020

The Los County Sheriff’s Office received reports at 1000 hours of a downed aircraft on the hillside at Las Virgenes Road and Willow Glen Street in Calabasas. Deputies from the Malibu area were immediately on-scene. Unknown injuries. (1014)

LA County FD’s Engine 125 arrived on-scene of a helicopter down with an unknown number of injuries. At the same time, it was reported the fuselage was on fire and contained possible magnesium. (1025)

Photo Credit: LASD

The aircraft has been identified as a Sikorsky S-76E (helicopter) via aircraft data plate recovered on scene.

The fire was stopped and it was reported there were five fatalies with no survivors. (1035)

Photo Credit: LASD

The LA County PIO released a statement to news media around 1130 hours:

“Bikers were in the area and saw a helicopter in distress and called it in. It hit the side of the mountainside, which is away from the main roadway and firefighters had to lay a couple hundred feet of hose. There was some magnesium and they were working to put the fire out. We don’t know who is on board or where they were coming from or going to. The NTSB is investigating the crash.”

Battalion 5 assumed command as “Willow IC”. Officers from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is also assisting on-scene. (1136)

Photo Credit:

Social media began reporting NBA Star Kobe Bryant, 41 and his daughter, Giggi, 14 were on his private helicopter along with several unknown parties. We have been trying to find verified sources reporting this but due to the popularity of this story, it seems the internet is broken including Twitter.

Lots of messages being sent to his wife, Vanessa Bryant. It is being said he is survived by his wife and four daughters. We are waiting for the official cause of the accident but some are speculating adverse weather conditions.

We will provide updates as soon as we receive further information.

The LA County Sheriff’s Office will be releasing their presser today at 1400 hours PST at the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station located at 27050 Agoura Raod in Calabasas, California. This will also include LA County Fire Department’s Chief Osby, along with additional authorities.

Posted 1325 hours PDT

Seattle, Washington | Shooting | MCI | 8 People Shot

January 22, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM) / 1 Comment

INCIDENT SUMMARY

A verbal dispute ignited in gunshots with multiple people involved and shot. A total of eight people were shot resulting in one death, a 50-year old patient in critical condition and in surgery, while a 9-year old was listed in very serious condition. Five others were said to be in stable condition.

SFD Chief Scoggins: “We transported five patients to HMC and we were told that the hospital is treating seven total. There is unknown information as to these two additional patients, if they were walk-ins or self-transported to the facility and they are working on gathering additional information. There were a total of eight people were shot, including one deceased person.”

SPD Chief Best: “There was a dispute in front of the McDonalds where people out pulled out guns and shots were fired. It is unknown if this shooting is connected to the earlier afternoon incident on 3rd and Blanchard. Still gathering information on the number of suspect(s). Multiple people were involved but they are still investigating.” (7:45 PM)

Here is a tally of what has been happening this month alone:

January 22, 2020 – 4th Avenue x Pine – Shooting – MCI

Police radio traffic on the scanner feed switched over to a Tactical channel and then the feed eventually stopped transmitting. (8:00 PM)

A presser was released on this incident. (7:45 PM)

Police were dispatched to the Washington Convention Center located in the 700 block of Pike Street, Seattle. The suspect was described as a black male, thin build, 6’1″, wearing gray jacket and black turtleneck pulled over his face. He attempted to force his way into the Center but they are currently on lockdown. Security Guards were reporting this as possibly to as the shooter’s same description. (7:30 PM)

Mass Casualty Incident or MCI for short | Another shooting in the downtown area. Shooting in this area with multiple victims. Police say suspect fled but they were still searching for him. They were assisting with First Aid treatment of the multiple patients. (5:11 PM)

January 22, 2020 – 300 block x Blanchard – Shooting Call

Photo Credit: Seattle DOT

Officers were dispatched to this area for a shooting. 3rd Avenue has been closed to all traffic, while they are investigating. (3:00 PM)

Officers from Seattle Police and Deputies from King County Sheriff’s Office were involved in this shooting. The suspect has been transported to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of non life-threatening injuries. No officers or deputies were injured during this encounter. Force Investigation Team detectives are responding. (3:19 PM)

January 21, 2020 – 1600 block x 4th Ave – Shooting Call

SPD Officers were dispatched near Pine Street. 1 person found with a gunshot wound was located in the stairwell of the Westlake Center. The 55-year old later died of his injuries. Officers performed CPR on the victim until they were relieved by Seattle Firefighters and Medics. (3:45 PM)

January 19, 2020 – 4200 Blk x S Willow Street – Possible DUI Call

A concerned citizen stopped a SPD Officer to report a possible drunk driver passed out next to vehicle. The responding Officer found the victim to have a gunshot wound to his head. He was declared deceased at the scene by SFD Medics. The victim was 52-years old. (1:00 AM)

January 17, 2020 – S Kenyon Street x Renton Ave S – Shots Fired Call

SPD Officers were dispatched to the area to find no one injured but property damage from multiple shots fired. Police took two guns off the street along with multiple spent casings. Suspects fled in a stolen car. This is located in the Rainier Valley area.

January 10, 2020 – 4500 blk x 40th Ave SW – Injured Person, Unresponsive

25-year old male, roommate to the victim called 9-1-1 to report a female down at the bottom of a staircase in their shared West Seattle home located. Officers were suspicious and turned the case over to Homicide Detectives. The victim died on January 13, 2020. Initially, they interviewed him but released the person-of-interest. However, after further evidence, they charged him with murder on January 22, 2020. He was booked into the King County jail.

January 2, 2020 – Belltown – Shooting

Witnesses began flooding 9-1-1 with multiple calls of a person down on the ground after reports of shots were reported just before 11:00 PM. Officers arrived within minutes to find a 35-year old man with a single gunshot wound to the leg. Arriving patrols applied a tourniquet to the wound and called for Medics. The patient was transported to HMC with non-life threatening injuries. Detectives were busy investigating the shooting case the following day on January 3, 2020.

January 1, 2020 – S Washington Street at Occidental Avenue S – Shooting

Photo Credit: Seattle DOT

Police responded to a shooting in the Pioneer Square area to find a victim that had been shot, who was transported to Harborview Medical Center but succumed to his fatal injuries. The suspect was located immediately and arrested SPD bike Officers, booked into King County Jail.

If you have any tips to some of these unsolved shooting cases, please contact the Seattle Police Homicide Detectives at 206-233-5000.

Exterior Shed Fire Prompts SFD Full Fire Response

January 19, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM) / Leave a comment

Incident Summary

An exterior shed fire ignited from an unknown cause in the backyard of a home in the 9400 block of 18th Avenue SW in Seattle, Washington on Sunday, January 19, 2020.

Due to the fire, a power line was downed. The power company was requested to respond to the fire ground.

Resources

Seattle Fire units A14 AIR10 B5 B7 DEP1 E26 E27 E32 E36 E37 L1 L11 M32 M44 MAR5 R1 REHAB1 SAFT2 STAF10 and E11.

Stock Photo (c) NW Fire Blog

Seattle City Light power crews.

Fire Operations

Engine 11 arrived as first due apparatus to a working fire of a 20×20 exterior shed in the backyard of a home. They immediately pulled a pre-connect and designated the incident as “18th Avenue SW Command”. (2114 PST)

Battalion asked if the response could be reduced. (2116). She arrived shortly there after. (2119)

Engine 26 provided water for Engine 11. Engine continued to run on tank water and switched over. During the fire operation, they needed to hook up to a secondary hydrant for a water supply.

Water was put on the fire on the Charlie side. The fire response was reduced to a 2. 1&1 which is two engines, a ladder company and a Battalion Chief. Engines 11 and 37, Ladder 11 and Battalion 2 remained on-scene. (2120-2121)

It was reported that this could be a possible hoarder situation, which from experience we know to be dangerous to occupants and to firefighters. The interior of the basement and floor one of the nearby residence also was checked. There were no extension, smoke or damage to the home, but also in the same alleged condition.

The fire was tapped several minutes later. (2133)

Cause

A Seattle Fire Investigator, Marshal 5 was dispatched to this call and is currently on-scene investigating the cause. There is no preliminary cause at the time of this post.

Injuries

No reports of injuries to the occupant or firefighters have occurred.

Red Cross was requested for one displaced occupant. (2155)

Product Recall | Mini Strollers due to Fall Hazard

January 18, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM) / Leave a comment

Product Recall Description

A product recall was issued to the general public via the Consumer Protection Safety Commission, an United States of American (USA) consumer protection governmental agency on Thursday, January 16, 2020.

Recalled Tango Mini Stroller

This recall involves four models of black Tango Mini Strollers, each with its own model number and identifiable by a uniquely colored bonnet top sold in Quartz Pink (Model Number ST31D09A), Sedona Gray (Model Number ST31D10A), Jet Black (Model Number ST31D11A), and Purest Blue (Model Number ST31D03A). Model numbers are printed in black on a white sticker located on one of the stroller’s legs.

There are approximately 2,000 strollers affected under this chinese manufactured product and distributed by Baby Trend of Fontana, California.

Recalled stroller model number is printed in black on a white sticker attached to the stroller’s leg

Seller Locations

These strollers were sold between October 2019 and November 2019 for around $100.00 to $200.00 at amazon.com, Target stores and through their online website http://www.target.com.

Origin of Products

This product is manufactured in China and chinese products have lately been on a string of recalls broadcasted by the U.S. government agency, Consumer Product Safety Commission or also known as CPSC for short and one we will refer to in this post.

Hazard Description

Both of the stroller’s hinge joints can release and collapse under pressure, posing a fall hazard to children in the stroller. We are unsure of the testing method prior to putting this product on the market.

There have been no injuries reported.

Both of the stroller’s hinge joints can release and collapse under pressure, posing a fall hazard to children in the stroller.

Remedy

Immediately stop using this product and request a replacement or refund. Baby Trend at 800-328-7363 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (West coast time/Pacific Standard Time) Monday through Friday, e-mail info@babytrend.com or online at www.babytrend.com and click on “Safety Notices” at the bottom of the page for more information.

Source

CPSC = https://nortonsafe.search.ask.com/web?q=google+earth&geo=en_US&prt=&ctype=&o=APN11910&chn=&ver=&tpr=2&ts=1451155128231

#productrecall #CPSCrecall #babysafety #kidsafety

US Product Recall | Wood and Masonry Protectors | Recall No. 20-056

January 15, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM) / Leave a comment

The Recall

The Thompson’s Company, a Cleveland, Ohio company issued a product recall for their Thompson’s® WaterSeal® Waterproofing Wood Protector and Masonry Protector in Aerosol Cans on January 14, 2020.

852,000 cans are affected. Recall # is 20-056.

This recall is due to posing a fire hazard.

“The contents of the cans can react with the package, causing rust to form along the can seam, which could spread to other areas of the can and create pinhole leaks. Leaking propellant poses a fire hazard when it comes into contact with sources of ignition. Leaking sealer can also result in property damage.” – CPSC.gov website

What to Do

Consumers should immediately stop using Thompson’s WaterSeal Waterproofing Wood Protector and Masonry Protector in aerosol cans, discard the products in accordance with local requirements and contact The Thompson’s Company for a full refund.

Incidents Reported

The Thompson’s Company received approximately 18 reports of leaking cans from retailers. No injuries, fires, or property damage were reported.

Contact Info

The Thompson’s Company toll-free at 888-304-3769 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, email at thompsonsaerosolrecall@sherwin.com, or online at www.thompsonswaterseal.com and click on “RECALL” for more information.

Purchase Locations

Lowe’s Home Improvement, Walmart, Menards, Home Depot and other stores nationwide from February 2014 through September 2019 for about $8.

Recalled Thompson’s WaterSeal Aerosol Wood and Masonry Protectors

Photo Credit: The Thompson Company

Product Recall Sources

For more information on which actual cans are being recalled, visit the CPSC.gov website (see recall below) for specifics.

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2020/The-Thompsons-Company-Recalls-Aerosol-Waterproofing-Wood-and-Masonry-Protectors-Due-to-Fire-Hazard

Bound Brook Firefighters and Mutual Aid Fight 7-Alarm Fire | 1

January 13, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM) / Leave a comment

UPDATE 1 – JANUARY 13, 2020 – MONDAY

On Sunday night around 2000 (8pm) hours EST, a massive fire ripped through a 3-story apartment complex under construction located on Mountain Avenue and East Main in Bound Brook, New Jersey.

When firefighters arrived, they immediately escalated the fire to a multiple alarm fire. It would soon be necessary to escalate it even higher, as additional units were being requested to respond. Mutual aid from various areas within the county and even outside their County would respond to the fire, as well as backfilling stations for local area service calls. The highest level it reached was a seven-alarm fire.

The fire building, a 3-story apartment complex was said to be fully engulfed upon arriving on-scene. Other exposures would soon be eaten alive by fire, as resources rushed in to try to save them. Brush fires would be ignited as embers from burning buildings. So much focus was on their downtown corridor as debris and fires would erupt. Later the area would be closed off and open to emergency vehicles only.

Photo Credit | NJSPBA

Fire was reported by a civilian that it had jumped across the street to another building with propane tanks in the basement. There were evacuations of those in the area of Drake and Talmage. Resources were moving from South of Talmage to east to Drake. All-in-all, it was reported about 100 people were evacuated and half of the town’s residents were without power, which constituted around 3,000 customers.

The Union County Neptune Task Force was called in to do structure protection. Two additional Task Forces were created within Region 5, Somerset County Task Force 1 that were working out of the command post at the Old Toys-R-Us location and Task Force 2 out of Whole Foods.

At one time, communications on their radio system (6 regions. 6 Ops channels), that their Radio Coordinator responded to reorganize the channels. It was overloading their system and they worked tirelessly to avoid it from crashing from so much fire traffic.

There were reports of rail cars on fire but were quickly extinguished. There was no NJ Transit in service but Conrail would place trains back in active motion. A broadcast over Fire Channels warned firefighters to have their situational awareness on when it comes to trains moving again.

Reports of several homes and multiple buildings, including a second apartment complex across the street on East Main burned to the ground. A few buildings were reported they collapsed in the area as well. A collapse zone was established to keep people and firefighters out of the danger zone.

There was one minor injury reported: a firefighter ankle.

There was no preliminary cause released by Somerset County Fire and EMS’ Fire Investigator.

Another update will be released today when more information is known.

Thank you to the many firefighters and those who supported them on this difficult and dangerous fire.

Thank you to our followers for following this story and many others on our Social Media Channels: @nwfireblog (Twitter & Facebook) nwfireblog (Instagram)

Day 11 | The Best of the NW Fire Blog in Fire Images | 365 Photo Challenge

January 11, 2020January 11, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM) / Leave a comment

NATIONAL INTERAGENCY FIRE CENTER | BOISE, IDAHO

We took a long road trip in September of 2019, stopping and photographing some points-of-interests along the way.

Fire Fact | 159 USFS wildland firefighters and DOI fire personnel have been deployed to assist with the Australian bushfires intermittently throughout December 2019 and January 2020.

Though we were on the outside looking in, it was pretty hectic as firefighters responded to the Center ready for deployment and coordination of resources.

Fire Fact | There is a current resource request from Australia for additional U.S. fire mutual aid, which is being coordinated through the NIFC.

It was great to see this is a large organization with multiple facets of fire-related activities at this Center, covering very large areas of real estate.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL INTERAGENCY FIRE CENTER (NIFC)

The National Interagency Fire Center located at the Boise Airport in Idaho and is compromised of 55 acres. It has areas for firefighting equipment, aircraft ramp operations, aircraft retardant tanker operations and administrative functions supporting the mission of wildland fire and other emergencies.

Their main focus is wildland firefighting but they also support other emergency responses, such as flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcano eruptions, riots and terrorist attacks.

Located at the NIFC are the Great Basin Cache and Returns Warehouse, National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC), Radio cache, Remoted automated weather stations, Smokejumpers and tours.

They have a great website that provides a lot of fire situation reports, national news and other fire-related information, which can be found at https://www.nifc.gov/

Hours of operation are Monday – Friday, 0800 – 1630 hours MST. There are tours that you can take that usually are available by reservation only. This is generally during the week and are available by calling for a reservation. The one-to-two hour tour is usually available outside of fire peak season which is during the months of June through September.

Missing Retired Canadian Firefighter | Neil Smith

January 11, 2020January 11, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM) / Leave a comment

HAVE YOU SEEN ME? I HAVE BEEN REPORTED MISSING BY MY FAMILY.

The RCMP and BCPFFA (BC Firefighters) are looking for missing Retired Vacounver Firefighter Neil Smith whom drove away from his Langley home this afternoon around 2pm.

He has not been seen or heard from by connecting with his family since.

He is said to be driving a grey 2016 Ford 150 truck with license plate # KG 2406.

He is a member of the BCPFFA, a Canadian IAFF local that represents BC’s 4,000 Professionals.

Police are asking for any details on his whereabouts to reach out to them at http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/home

#BringHomeNeilSmith #MissingFirefighter #RetiredFirefighter #Missing #PleaseRetween

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