SFD Firefighters Kept Busy

November 20, 2021 / NW Fire Blog (TM) / Leave a comment

SEATTLE, WA — Seattle Firefighters have been kept pretty busy today with lots of illegal fires in encampments and other locations. Now, you can see how Seattle has been impacted by these fires breaking all across their Big City.

These activities do not cover all of the EMS/Medic, heavy and water rescue, or alarm calls that occur quite frequently throughout. There have been several SCENES OF VIOLENCE fire responses which take up quite a bit of resources.

1553 PT | Encampment Fire | 6th Ave S x S Washington St (Pioneer Square / Intl District). OPEN incident E10 dispatched. Incident #F210128926.

1521 PT | Car Fire | NE 75th St x Sandpoint Way NE (Laurelhurst/Sandpoint area). OPEN incident. E38 dispatched. Incident #F210128908.

1518 PT | Illegal Burn | NW Market St x 15th Ave NW (Ballard). E18 dispatched. Duration: 4 min. Incident #F210128905.

1515 PT | Illegal Burn | 200 block of Lake WA Blvd E. (Madrona/Leschi area). E34 dispatched. Duration 14 min. Incident #F210128904.

1500 PT | Rubbish Fire | 6th Ave x Seneca St. (First Hill area). E5 dispatched. Duration: 14min. Incident #F210128897.

1409 PT | Illegal Burn | 10th Ave E x John St. (Capitol HIll area). E25 dispatched. Duration: 14 min. Incident #F210128877.

1312 PT | Fire in Building | 200 block Terry Ave N (South Lake Union/Eastlake). Vacant commercial structure. Units dispatched: A2, Air240-260, B2, B4, DEP1, E10, E2, 2, E25, E5, E8, L10, L3, L4, L6, M10, M44, MAR5, REHAB1, SAFT2 and STAF10. Fire was extinguished with a pump can. Fire resources were reduced to a 2-1-1 (2 engines, 1 truck and 1 chief). MAR5 was investigating the cause. Duration 43 min. Incident #F210128857.

1044 PT | Rubbish Fire | NB I-5 From Cherry (Cherry Hill area). E10 dispatched. On scene 7 min. Incident #F210122809.

0959 PT | Fire in Building | 900 block of N. 97th St (Licton Springs). 6-Story, wood-frame structure with 100 apartment units. Units dispatched: A18, Air24-260, B2, B5, B6, DEP1, E16, E17, E21, E31, E35, L5, L8, L9, M17, MAR5, REHAB1, SAFT2, STAF10. Firefighters were dispatched to a structure fire. After arriving on the scene, the first due reported light smoke. They immediately had water on the fire. It was reported as under control within minutes. No injuries were reported. MAR5 was investigating the cause of the fire. On-scene 1 hr 28 min. Incident #F210128797.

0940 PT | Fire in Building | 4500 block of S Mead St (Columbia City). 1-story single-family residence, 1050-square feet structure. A14 AIR 240-260 B2 DEP1 E13 E27 E33 L3 M28 M44 MAR5 R1 REHAB1 SAFT2 STAF10 dispatched. Firefighters were dispatched to a small electrical fire in a crawl space of a residential structure. No injuries were reported. On scene 59 minutes. Incient#F21028795.

0759 PT | Rubbish Fire | 26th Ave SW x SW Andover St. (North Delridge area). E36 dispatched. On scene 13 minutes. Incident #F210128776.

0717 PT | Illegal Burn | 400 block S Washington St. (Pioneer Square area). 4-story Govt services building, Masonry structure. E6 dispatched. On-scene 17 min. Incident#F210128766.

0636 PT | Car Fire | 1300 block of Hubbell Pl. E5 dispatched.

0354 PT | Rubbish Fire | 12th Ave NE X NE 66th St. E16 dispatched.

0130 PT | Illegal Burn | 3100 block of NE 125th St. E39 dispatched.

0033 PT | Illegal Burn | 7900 block of Renton Ave S. E33 dispatched.

0027 PT | Illegal Burn | NE 123rd St x Lake City Way NE. E39 dispatched.

Bringing a Chief Home | 10

November 19, 2021 / NW Fire Blog (TM) / Leave a comment

UPDATE 10 | November 19, 2021

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

It was a somber day as SFD Deputy Chief Jay Schreckengost’s body was brought home today. First responders and many firefighters lined the procession route to offer their condolences and respect for their Chief.

Firefighters and first responders stood in silence as they mourned his passing from a recent fall near Cliffdell, when he went out alone to scout for elk. He had called his wife that morning to say he parked his vehicle and would call back that night to let his family know he made it safely back to his rented cabin in Naches. After his family was unable to locate him, he was reported missing on November 2, 2021.

The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office released this Official Statement about his cause of death and further details:

“The body of Deputy Fire Chief Jay Schreckengost was transported home to Seattle today by members of the Seattle Fire Department in Fire Department vehicles.

A forensic examination of the Chief ordered by the Kittitas County Coroner revealed numerous injuries including a broken wrist and broken spine. The autopsy concluded the cause of the Chief’s death was multiple blunt force trauma. Further investigation in the field led investigators to believe Chief Schreckengost fell down a steep hillside or cliff faces more than once before coming to rest where he was found last Sunday.

It’s known that there was snow on the ground when Chief Schreckengost went scouting for Elk on the morning of Tuesday, 11/2—creating slick conditions in that already rugged and dangerous terrain. The location where he was found was near the bottom of a sharp, broken slope about 700 feet in elevation, north-northeast from the end of Spur Rd 553 off Forest Service Rd 1703 in the Wenatchee-Okanogan National Forest near Cliffdell.

It’s believed the Chief slipped or fell down a part of that slope into the terrain where he could neither climb back up nor safely descend. Another fall brought him near the bottom of the slope and caused a fatal spinal fracture.

The area where the Chief came to rest was covered in thick brush and could not be safely navigated by searchers without technical climbing equipment and expertise.

The team that located him on the afternoon of Sunday, 11/14, included members of Mountain Rescue Teams from Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, and the Olympic and Central Mountain Rescue Teams. These teams are skilled and trained volunteers who searched miles of cliff bands in the mountainous area near the Chief’s last known location before finally locating him.

The Mountain Rescue Teams and all the Search and Rescue volunteers who participated were part of a monumental effort including and spurred by the passion of Chief Schreckengost’s fellow Seattle Firefighters.

The coordination and commitment of everyone who assisted in the search was a fitting tribute to the Chief, and we hope that his final voyage home provides some comfort to all who loved him.”

If you are a first responder, Fire/Police, EMS, Dispatcher, or a family of one and find it difficult with this news, please reach out for free, confidential 24/7/365 assistance to Safe Call Now by calling 206-459-3020.

More information will be updated if a Celebration of Life will be open to the public or to his close families (immediate and Fire), friends and family. – We hope you will say a prayer or two or thought for those impacted by this tragic loss. – Ed.

Missing Chief Found | Update 9

November 14, 2021 / NW Fire Blog (TM) / 2 Comments

UPDATE 9 | November 14, 2021

The almost two-week search for missing experienced hunter and Seattle Fire Deputy Chief, Jay Schreckengost has come to a close this evening after he was located deceased about one-half mile from where his previously discovered truck had been located. Released by the Sheriff’s Office, there was no suspicious activity of nature or foul play but the exact cause of his death is under investigation. No preliminary cause was released.

We send our sincere sympathies and thoughts to his immediate and fire families, loved ones, friends and, to the communities he served in. DC Schreckengost will be greatly missed by many and out of respect to his family – we are asking those to please allow them to grieve his passing.

Hunter and DC Schreckengost was last seen on November 2nd, around 0700 PT in Naches (Yakima County), Washington when he texted his wife to say that he had parked his truck and going out to scout for an area for elk hunting. He was due to call his family that night to let them know he had returned safely to his rented cabin at the Squak Rock Resort and RV park but they never received the call. He was reported as missing after not being able to locate him, to the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office immediately but it would be deemed by the County, that the Chief was actually missing in nearby Kittitas County. This County Sheriff’s Office would take the lead as both the primary SAR agency and as PIO. Yakima County and Kittitas County worked together as Unified Command, as well as combining their resources together. Over the course of the search to this day, there have been more than 60 agencies and 150-plus off-duty Seattle Fire personnel, as well as other FD personnel joining in the search.

From past experience, this is out-of-the-norm for searches to have this number of resources completely focusing on this type of search. Glad to hear that so many were looking for him.

THANK YOU to those who spent countless time, energy, money and worked together to find him. – Ed.

Kittitas County released this Official presser this evening:

Please check back for updates. We will be posting as new information is received.

Evening Fire Prompts SFD Response

November 13, 2021 / NW Fire Blog (TM) / Leave a comment

November 13, 2021 | Saturday | 2010 hours PT

Seattle Firefighters were dispatched at 1946 hours PT this evening to “Fire in Building” call in the 6500 block of 31st Avenue South in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. The Incident ID is F210126080.

Original units dispatched were A14, Air10, B2, B5, Deputy1, E13, E27, E28, E30, E33, L12, L3, M28, M44, MAR5, R1, REHAB1, SAFT2, STAF10.

First due resources reported a working detached garage fire. A preconnect was laid and a second engine hooked up to the second hydrant.

The quick egress actions by fire personnel helped reduce this to a 2-1-1, which is two engines, one truck and a Battalion Chief. All other responding resources were Code greened (return to service), except for the first due, plus a request for Marshal 5, Seattle Fire’s Investigator.

The fire was reported to be small and only contained to the garage area.

All occupants had evacuated safely from the structure. No injuries were reported to firefighters or civilians.

The cause of the fire is unknown at the time of this post.

SFD Respond to Kitchen Fire

November 9, 2021 / NW Fire Blog (TM) / Leave a comment

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON — Seattle Firefighters were dispatched at 2204 PT to the 5400 block of NE 65th Street in the Ravenna/Bryan area. The call was for a kitchen fire in a single unit of a two-story multi-family residential building.

Units dispatched include A25, Air10, B2, B4, DEP1, E17, E21, E22, E34, E38, L10, L5, L9, M17, MAR5, REHAB1, SAFT2, STAF10.

Firefighters were able to quickly egress on the fire and get it tapped by 2224 hours PT. A reduction of resources was completed and issuing a Code Green to non-committed units, except for Engines 38,17; Ladders 9 and 5; B5, Marshal5, and Air10 were canceled.

All occupants were said to have been evacuated safely. No injuries to firefighters were reported. Unknown if any residents suffered smoke inhalation or had any other injuries.

Primary (2221 PT) and secondary (2225) searches of the building were conducted. Nothing further was found inside the structure.

Northeast 65th Street was closed for traffic control. Metro Transit had to temporarily suspend service due to the closure. It was said to reopen by 2300 hours PT.

Another Derelict Building Up in Smoke

June 8, 2021 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

SEATTLE (KING), WASHINGTON

INCIDENT SUMMARY | Seattle Firefighters were called to a working Fire in Building call just before 1600 hours on Tuesday, May 8, 2021. First due units confirmed a working fire in the vacant and another derelict structure.

LOCATION | For easier mapping, it is located in the 500 block of Harrison Street and northbound of Denny Way to Republican Street and right across from the Seattle Center, a favorite and iconic City tourist locale.

RESOURCES | Units were dispatched via the Fire Alarm Center or FAC at 1558 hours PT.

Air Units — 240, 240-260.
Battalions — 2, 5, 6, 55.
Engines — 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 17, 20, 22, 25, 31.
Command Staff — PIO, DEP1, SAFETY2, STAFF10.
Ladders — 1, 3, 4, 6, 10.
Medical Group — MEDICAL GROUP | M44 (Supervisor), M10, A25, REHAB1.

OPERATIONS | Timeline for this incident

1601 — Crews were investigating reports of a fire in a vacant building.
1604 — Water on the fire.
1608 — Changed strategy from defensive to offensive position after a possible person reported inside the building.
1711 — 10 fire engines, 5 ladder trucks and additional support units on-scene. 70 firefighters fighting the first alarm blaze.
1713 — Reports of a person in the building but crews checked with thermal imaging cameras (also known as TICS) from the outside. They were unable to locate anyone. At this time, firefighters were unable to enter the interior of the building due to heavy smoke and for firefighter safety due to a possible structural collapse.
1715 — Operations in a defensive strategy and a collapse zone.
1732 — Upgraded to a 2nd Alarm. PIO arrived on-scene. Heavy smoke in the area.
1823 — Alpha-Delta. Collapse of wood façade on the corner of the building.
1900 — RMC clearing and going back in service.
1901 — REHAB1 back in service.
1904 — B6 back in service.
1913 — PIO in service.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS | Highlights of this Incident

Person reportedly inside the building was never located.
Heavy flames and smoke could be seen from all around Seattle.
Refueling of apparatus completed during the incident.
Upgraded to a 2nd alarm.
Collapse zone established.
Fire Watch is in effect and will remain on-scene overnight to watch for hot spots and rekindling.

FIRE BUILDING | This is a masonry constructed with low quality built in 1929, is approximately 12,855 square feet. It is listed with the King County Tax Assessor as a Restaurant/Lounge as its present use. However, we see that it has been unoccupied for awhile and boarded up. It is located near the Seattle Center and Space Needle.

Building media — PC: King County Tax Assessor

This building was remodeled in 1999 and 2004.

Building assessed value is just over $4 Million Dollars from $3.5 Million Dollars in the previous assessed year, per Tax records.

Current Picture — PC: King County Tax Assessor

CLOSURES | Issued by the Seattle Department of Transportation

5th Ave N NB closed at John St.
5th Ave N SB closed at Republican St.
Broad St EB closed at John St.
Thomas St closed EB & WB between 5th Ave N & Taylor Ave N.

SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF SOCIAL MEDIA | What People Are Saying

“Really hazy at Mercer and Dexter”

“Sad to see that. It’s been boarded up for awhile, but I would not be surprised if there was some temporary occupation going on.“

“Oh that’s a big fire in Seattle…“

“That burning vacant building used to be a dance club back in the day.“

“[SFD] still fighting the flames inside this vacant building that used to house popular nightclubs.“

there is a massive fire in a vacant building right below. CRAZY!“

This fire was covered by local, national news and in our nearby neighbors in Portland, Oregon.

INJURIES | None reported that we are aware of.

CAUSE | Unknown, under investigation.

PROPERTY/CONTENT LOSS | Unknown.

#SeattleFire #VacantBldgFire #FireInBuilding

Seattle Sees Lots of Fires

June 5, 2021June 5, 2021 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

JUNE 5, 2021 | Saturday | 2320 PT

Seattle Fire has seen its share of fires since Friday and again on Saturday. Here is a recap of fires for Friday and Saturday and it is not even Sunday yet!

JUNE 5TH

2300 PT

Brush Fire. 520 block of Pontius Avenue. E2 dispatched. Fire in a planter box. Pump can extinguished.

1130 PT

Rubbish Fire. 9500 block of Ashworth Avenue North. E21, E21 dispatched.

0704 PT

Bark Fire. SW Andover Street x California Avenue SW. E32 dispatched.

0524 PT

Fire in Building. 4800 block of Raymond Street. A14, Air10, B2, B5, Deputy1, E13, E27, E28, E30, E33, L12, L3, M28, M44, MAR5, R1, REHAB1, SAFT2 and STAFF10 dispatched. Fire in a bathroom of a home. All occupants safely self-evacuated.

JUNE 4TH

2344 PT

Illegal Burn. 2700 block of East Madison Street. E34 dispatched.

2319 PT

Illegal Burn. 23rd Place NE and NE 145th Street. E39 dispatched.

2220 PT

Brush Fire. 5th Avenue NE and NE 60th Street. E31 dispatched.

1928 PT

Brush Fire. West Emerson Street and 15th Avenue Wes. E20 dispatched.

1632 PT

Fire in Building. B7, E11, L13, E28, L12, REHAB1, STAFF10, A5, B5, Deputy1, E37, L3, Safety2, E27, M25, M44, Air10, E32, MAR5, MVU11 dispatched.

1124 PT

Rubbish Fire. Pike Street and Boren Avenue. L10 dispatched.

0001 PT

Transformer Fire. Taylor Avenue North and Valley Street. E8 dispatched. Small fire at the Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) Transfer Station. Fire units quickly brought fire under control. No injuries reported.

SFD Responds to Airport Way Fire

May 18, 2021 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON — Seattle Firefighters were dispatched via the Fire Alarm Center for a full response to the 6200 block of Airport Way South in the early morning hours on Tuesday, May 18, 2021.

Units arriving on-scene around 0100 PT hours reported no fire or smoke from the exterior of the three-story, multi-family and ordinary construction building.

The call in to Dispatch with reports of a fire on third floor, prompting a full fire response.

Units downgraded to a 2-1-and-1 response.

Initial full response included the following SFD Units:

A14 AIR10 B2 B5 DEP1 E11 E13 E26 E27 E28 L1 L12 M26 M44 MAR5 R1 REHAB1 SAFT2 STAF10 R1

Incident is named the AIRPORT WAY COMMAND.

This building is located at the end of the King County International – Boeing field. The $1.9 Million building is listed as being “off the market” and is approximately 7,452-square in size.

Fans were brought in by crews to vent the light haze that remained inside the upper floor.

Cause: Food on the stove.

SFD Sees Fire in Same Abandoned Building

May 16, 2021May 16, 2021 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

UPDATE 2 – MAY 16, 2021 – 2329 PT

Fire crews are working to transition to an offensive strategy to conduct a primary search of floors three and down. This is the old Seattle Opera building.

The bulkhead door has been opened and an assessment has been completed.

John St and Terry Ave N: crews are transitioning to an offensive strategy to conduct a primary search of the building pic.twitter.com/Vpm5k2wa87
— Seattle Fire Dept. (@SeattleFire) May 17, 2021

Video Credit: Seattle Fire Department

Floors 1 and 2 primary search will be handled by Engine and Ladder 10. Other units will be searching as well.

Four additional units are en route to the incident.

Fire was listed under control at 2323 PT. Shortly, thereafter fire crews had a tap fire at 2325 PT.

Crews were directed to place foam over the building.

Sounds like they have been to the location more than two times.

Primary searches were in effect.

UPDATE 1 – MAY 16, 2021 – 2308 PT

Seattle Fire units A2 AIR 240-260 B6 DEP1 E22 E5 E8 L1 L10 M1 M44 MAR5 REHAB1 SAFT2 STAF10 have been dispatched at 2254 PT tonight, to a Fire in Building call in the intersection of Terry Avenue North and John Street. Multiple callers reporting seeing flames on the top floor of a six-story commercial structure.

This is a derelict building that the Seattle Fire Department has responded to several times already. Tonight, they are right back at it.

Last time, there were visible flames located on the fire under the bulkhead on the roof.

First due units are reporting to Command as fire on the top floor.

Units are going to deck gun the fire from the Terry side. Due to it being a derelict building, it has been recommended not to enter inside the structure.

A Ladder pipe operation was established until discovery of a high power transmission line that would interfere with their operations was replaced with a deck gun operations. Multiple units have set-up deck gun operations group.

Command states it appears several transmission lines have blown. It is a safety issue for those on the ground. A broadcast was given over the scanner.

Command Post has been relocated to Terry Avenue, named as the Alpha side. East side is Charlie side. Ten minutes on the timer.

Units reporting a top floor fire. Derelict building. No collapse zones. Deck gun to be inserted inside the third floor window. Water on the fire at 2305 Hours PT but transmission lines are causing challenges to get water dumped on the fire.

Firefighters are going to the bulkhead of the parking structure to open the door to the building.

This incident is called the TERRY AVENUE COMMAND.

South Seattle Fire Prompts Full Response

May 5, 2021 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

MAY 5, 2021 2055 PT

A duplex fire prompted Fire units to be dispatched through the Fire Alarm Center to a structure fire in the in the block of 19th Ave S and S Stevens Street, in Seattle, Washington.

The incident was named the STEVENS COMMAND.

Seattle Fire units dispatched were A14 AIR26 B2 B5 DEP1 E10 E13 E30 E5 E6 L1 L3 M10 M44 MAR5 R1 REHAB1 SAFT2 STAF10 at 2001 hours PT.

This was originally listed as an interior fire contained to the Charlie/Bravo corner that extended into the attic. The Charlie Division was established and members were cautioned to check in with the Division before going in due to arching and downed power lines.

Fire was brought under control at 2012, about 11 minutes into the call. It was said to be burning in the overhead. On the Charlie side, there was no heat detected and at this moment considered to have the fire under control but a short report from the exterior showed light smoke coming from the Alpha side.

RIT was established at 2016 hours PT.

After overhaul was in operations, there was indication of extension above the kitchen. Active visible fire was see in the Bravo/Charlie side up to the attic. Two engine companies took up lines to the area and immediately put water on the fire.

A Decon line was established (2024 hours).

Utilities were secured: Gas for both structures (2026 hours) and power (2034).

Roof operations had a plan to cut into the roof above the kitchen but decided not to. (2028). Water on the fire (2030) and then a tap fire (2031).

Exactly at 30 minutes, fire crews egressed quickly to make sure this did not extend further or cause it to put other exposures at risk. Nice work, Seattle Fire!

Two adults and two dogs were displaced by the fire and are being assisted by the Red Cross.

No reports of injuries to the occupants or crews were reported.

Fire Marshal 5 (FIU) was called to the scene. No word on the cause or content damage is known at the time of this post.

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