October 2019
Here’s the latest news impacting Seattle Fire Fighters…
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Seattle Fire Fighter Marvin Edward Larry added to 2019 IAFF Memorial Wall of Honor
Seattle Fire Fighters added one of their own to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Memorial Wall of Honor as a lasting reminder of his service and sacrifice within the Fire Service. Fire Fighter Larry was among the 250 men and women who had their names inscribed onto marble stone walls during the 2019 IAFF Memorial Ceremony held in Colorado Springs. Marvin passed away due to cancer in March of 2018 after serving as a Seattle Fire Fighter since 1989 where was a proud founding member of the Seattle Honor Guard. Marvin had a larger than life personality and will be remembered for his dedication to Family, Duty and Honor.
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250 names added to national Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Colorado Springs
The names of 250 men and women were added Saturday to the growing rolls inscribed on the national Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial in Colorado Springs. The number of union firefighters’ names being added to the black stone walls at the northwest corner of Memorial Park has been steadily increasing in recent years.
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‘It was a hard day’: Seattle first responders pay tribute to heroes of 9/11
In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, a team of 23 Seattle firefighters flew to New York City and Washington, D.C. to join the search for survivors. About half are still in the department today. On Wednesday, the Seattle Fire and Police departments held a joint commemoration at the Seattle Center to acknowledge the lives lost and the impact of the attacks on their profession.
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Seattle to expand Health One program
Firefighters say that when the call is not an acute emergency but instead someone dealing with drug addiction or mental illness there is little they can do. "In my 20 years I've gone through a range of emotions from anger to hopelessness about the patients I'm trying to take care of," said firefighter Roger Webber. But next month Roger Webber will have a new tool. The first vehicle dedicated to the new Health One program. It will carry two firefighters and a social worker to respond to non-emergency medical calls.
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Photo Courtesy of Matt M. McKnight
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Near Northgate, firefighters slower to arrive after ‘cancer house’ station closes
In the three months since firefighters abandoned a north Seattle station long suspected of sickening crew members stationed there, response times in the area have slowed by as much as 60%. Between June 18, when Station 31 — nicknamed the “cancer house” by firefighters — was shuttered, and July 31, responding units took a minute and a half longer than normal to respond to fires and basic medical incidents in the area near Interstate 5 and North Seattle College, according to data provided by the Seattle Fire Department.
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Who Seattle Fire Fighters Support for November City Council Election
Seattle Fire Fighters Union, IAFF Local 27 is proud to announce our support for the following candidates for election to the Seattle City Council on November 5, 2019:
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Crews battle fire at office building at Boeing Field
A fire at an office building at Boeing Field was quickly put out by firefighters Thursday evening. The fire started in an office building on East Marginal Way at 16th Ave. South. The building was evacuated, and no one was hurt, according to Seattle Fire. The area was not one of Boeing's airplane production facilities and production was not affected by the fire, a spokesperson for Boeing said.
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Crews put out fire at two-story home near Yesler Terrace
Crews battled a fire at a two-story house near Yesler Terrace on Sunday morning. The fire broke out around 8:30 a.m. at the home located in the 1200 block of East Spruce Street. A crew with the Seattle Fire Department responded quickly and the fire was put out around 8:45 a.m. There were no injuries.
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Photo courtesy of the WSB
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House Fire in North Delridge
A structure fire broke out at the 5000 Blk. of 25th Ave. S. and was ruled accidental, according to Seattle Fire officials. Loss damage was estimated at $250k and the caused was determined to be a malfunction of a power strip and extension cord located on the deck. A safety tip to remember is to make sure to plug power strips directly into outlets and do not overload.
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SFD quickly knocks down fire as Sunday brunchtime blaze clears Coastal Kitchen
Seattle Fire was quick to the rescue and Coastal Kitchen barely skipped a beat in its Sunday brunch service after a noontime fire brought a huge response but did little damage to the 15th Ave E restaurant. SFD was called to the 400 block at straight up noon to the report of light smoke coming from the back of the restaurant.
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Person trapped inside burning car on I-5 in North Seattle
A person was trapped inside a burning car after it flipped on its side and caught fire on I-5 in North Seattle Friday night. The crash happened just north of the Northgate Mall on 117th Street, according to Seattle Fire. Crews put out the fire and safely got the driver out. The driver was then taken to Harborview Medical Center.
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Man suffers life-threatening injuries after shooting in Seattle's Rainier Valley
A man was recovering at Harborview Medical Center after being shot Wednesday night in Rainier Valley. The call came in just after 9 p.m. Officers responded to the intersection of Rainier Avenue South and South Holden Street to investigate a shooting reported in the area, Seattle Police officials said in a statement. By the time officers arrived, the victim, a man in his 20s, was being treated for life-threatening gunshot wounds by Seattle Fire Department medics.
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Admiral/46th collision
Seattle Fire responded to an emergency at Admiral/46th on reports of a collision involving a driver and pedestrians. No major injuries were reported, but one person was taken to a hospital by private ambulance. SFD reported that the victims were a, “24-year-old male evaluated, and did not require transport. Approx. 49-year-old female transported via AMR to area hospital in stable condition.”
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Pregnant woman stabbed in High Point, suspect in custody
Fire personnel responded in the 6400 block of 31st SW in High Point, where a woman was reported to have been stabbed. The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center by a SFD medic unit. SFD also confirmed the victim was a pregnant woman, adding that she’s in her 20s and the wound is not believed to be life-threatening. The suspect, police confirmed to us, is in custody.
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Collision closes 15th and Market
Seattle Fire responded for a two-car collision that has closed the intersection of 15th Ave. NW and NW Market St. Firefighters say two people sustained minor injuries and were able to extricated themselves from their vehicles. The roadway should be cleared shortly, and you can see our Ballard-area traffic cameras here.
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Woman in her 80s rescued from car that drove off embankment, into ravine
A woman in her 80s was rescued by Seattle Fire Department officials after her car ended up 20 feet down a ravine. The accident occurred at 46th Avenue South and South Andover Street. Rescue officials responded for a car that was about 30 feet off the road with one patient trapped. Crews conducted a rescue to bring an approximately 82-year-old woman in stable condition to safety.
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Puyallup man finds wedding ring in home destroyed by fire; family dog killed
An investigation is underway after a Pierce County family's home was gutted by a raging fire Saturday evening. When crews arrived on the scene, they saw a fully involved mobile home fire in the 8100 block of 156th Street Court East near 80th Avenue at the Western Ranchet mobile home park. Video showed the flames just after 3 p.m. ripping through the mobile home and shooting in the air.
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9-year-old boy, 2 women injured in North Seattle stabbing
Seattle police are investigating a stabbing that injured three people Tuesday night in North Seattle. Officers responded to a report of a domestic violence assault involving a knife in the 11500 block of Stone Way North at about 10:00 p.m. When officers arrived, they found three people injured -- a 9-year-old boy, a 70-year-old woman and a 27-year-old woman, who police say is also believed to be the suspect.
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Woman struck by car on Aurora Avenue near Green Lake, seriously injured
Seattle police are investigating after a driver struck a woman Monday evening on Aurora Avenue North near Green Lake, seriously injuring her. The collision occurred in the 6700 block of Aurora Avenue North around 5 p.m., according to a statement from the police department. The pedestrian, a 20-year-old woman, was taken to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition, said Seattle Fire Department spokesman David Cuerpo.
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Injuries, entrapment in 2-car crash on Seattle's First Hill
A car with four occupants rolled over and landed on its side after colliding with another car early Friday on Seattle's First Hill, emergency officials said. Police and firefighters responded to the scene, at Boren Avenue and Madison Street, at about 2:15 a.m. after receiving reports of a serious two-car crash. A white car was found on its side with four people inside. Two of them were trapped in the back seat, so firefighters cut off the roof of the vehicle to rescue them.
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Seattle Mayor Pitches $6.5 Billion 2020 City Budget
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan unveiled a $6.5 billion budget proposal on Monday, seeking funding for several new or expanded programs for the city in 2020. The mayor's office says the proposal focuses on five priorities: youth opportunity, public safety, homelessness, housing and transportation.
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Wildfire season in Washington more manageable than previous years — but it’s not over yet
A combination of strategic attacks to put out wildfires and cooler, wetter weather have resulted in a milder than anticipated wildfire season in Central Washington. Air quality in the Yakima Valley was dramatically better, as a result. While the state has seen more than 1,000 wildfires this year — compared to a record high last year of 1,850 wildfires — there have been significantly fewer large fires, said state Department of Natural Resources communications director Carlo Davis.
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Photo courtesy of Rajah Bose
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'
It just builds up': Washington firefighters struggle with PTSD long after the fires go out
In the 27 years Tom Hatley has worked as a structural and wildland firefighter, he says he has lost count of the number of fatalities he’s seen. “I’ve lost track — I’m sure hundreds,” he says. “I remember one year. I was called Dr. Death because every time I was on call — I had like six fatalities in six months. It just seemed like every time I turned around; somebody was dying.” He worked the Tubbs Fire in California in 2017, the most destructive wildfire in California at the time. There were 22 fatalities. In his division, there were six missing people.
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Camano Island woman wins fight to have firefighter husband's death ruled job-related
"Excellent dad, the best. They don't come any better than him," says Kalina Shouse when asked about her husband Erik.
The couple have two beautiful, intelligent, active little girls but Kalina Shouse no longer has the man who helped make them; Erik Shouse died last year at just 40, suddenly and unexpectedly. "It was shocking -- which then led me to, ‘What happened?' That was kind of my recurring thought - 'What happened? I don't understand what happened,'" Kalina Shouse remembers. An autopsy revealed the otherwise healthy firefighter had heart disease.
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Here’s Why Salinas Firefighters Will Soon Be Sporting Body Armor
As a Salinas firefighter, Josh Hostetter has dealt with much more than medical calls, wildfires and structure fires. He’s responded to gunfire. “I’ve pulled guns out of people’s hands. I’ve have guns drop out of waistbands,” said Hostetter, who is the president of the Salinas City Firefighters Association IAFF Local 1270. “I’ve responded to hundreds of shootings (throughout the years).”
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Report: 43% of fire stations are 40-plus years old
As the condition of aging bridges, roadways, transportation resources, and grids across the U.S. has increasingly become the focus of discussion, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has issued Renovations Needs of the U.S. Fire Service, a new report on the fire service's aging infrastructure. Two key findings within the report show that more than 21,000 firehouses across the country are beyond 40 years of age with total replacement costs estimated to be in the $70-$100 billion range.
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Seattle Fire Fighters Raise Funds for MDA
Seattle fire fighters were on the streets from September 24th until September 27
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for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) as part of their annual “Fill-the-Boot” campaign. In the past 18 years, Seattle Fire has raised more than a million dollars towards this effort. The Seattle campaign is part of a nationwide program to raise awareness of this disease, but a majority of the funds raised will go towards local families in the area.
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King County and Seattle’s homeless-services merger moves forward, with questions
Flanked by mayors and elected officials from across King County, county Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan outlined their proposed plan to merge the Puget Sound’s fragmented homelessness services into one regional authority. Now, they just need their respective councils and cities to agree on approving it. “No single government, no single program, no single stakeholder can succeed alone” in addressing homelessness, Constantine said.
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Community crowdfunding for North Delridge fire victims
The family affected by Thursday morning’s house fire in North Delridge included a Pathfinder K-8 student, and Robin sends word today of a community crowdfunding effort for the student and their family. As noted in our coverage, SFD determined the fire was accidental, sparked by a malfunctioning power strip and extension cord.
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Community rallies to help Kent man who lost mobile home in fire
All that was left of Alex Lima's Kent home and everything he owned was finally cleared and hauled off one week after he survived a raging fire. “God give one more chance for my life,” said Lima. KIRO 7 first brought you Lima’s story earlier in the week. Lima escaped by running through the flames, saved by his neighbor who punched a window to wake him up.
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SFD, SPU join forces in practicing for trench rescues at West Seattle’s Joint Training Facility
You’re probably accustomed to seeing Seattle Public Utilities trucks like that one in the storm season, making the rounds clearing drains; SPU has 22 of them. But they also can be used in the life-threatening emergencies known as trench rescues. Today, SPU and Seattle Fire Department crews trained side by side at the Joint Training Facility in southeast West Seattle to be ready for those rare rescues.
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Dozens of female firefighters empowered during Spanaway event
A group of female firefighters trained together in Spanaway over the weekend during an event that was meant to both mentor and empower them. The event brought together more than 40 female firefighters from California and Washington. They covered live fire training, worked with power tools and practiced auto extrication. Firefighter Kelsey Nunley, who started in Seattle last year, said getting hired was a long process.
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Photo courtesy of Chaela Herridge-Meyer/StoryCorps
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She Was His Crew Boss — And His Mom — On The Fire Line
Connie Mehmel and Ian Bennett have a mother-son bond forged by fire. Connie, 68, retired from the Forest Service last week, marking the end of her 42-year career. Ian, 42, is a lieutenant with the Seattle Fire Department. Connie became a firefighter when she was a young mother in the 1970s. At the time, the Forest Service was working to recruit more women to join its ranks.
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Okanogan Assistant Fire Chief remains in critical condition after wildfire
An Okanogan County Firefighter continues to recover after half of his body was burned while fighting a wildfire. For the first time, we heard from the doctors and family members of the burn victim, Okanogan Assistant Fire Chief Christian Johnson. It was back on September 1st when the Spring Coulee Fire burned south of Okanogan.
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REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN
BROTHERS & SISTERS
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Photo courtesy of North Highline Fire Department
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North Highline Fire Dept. Captain Eric Boutwell has died
It is with profound sadness that the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters, Burien Union Fire Fighters Local #1461, and King County Fire District #2 report the death of Captain Eric Boutwell in Walla Walla on Wednesday, September 11, 2019. Brother Boutwell was a valued friend and colleague for all of us lucky enough to know and work with him.
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Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Mickel Zainfeld has died
It is with deepest regret and sorrow to report the line-of-duty death of Battalion Chief Mickel W. Zainfeld, IAFF District 7 Local 3828, Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue - Kelso, WA. Brother Zainfeld, 41, succumbed to PTSD on September 19, 2019.
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IAFF LINE-OF-DUTY
DEATH ANNOUNCEMENTS
William S. Wilson (Richmond Hill Professional Fire Fighters Association IAFF Local 1957):
Passed away on 8/26/19 from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Austin M. Peck (United Goodyear Fire Fighters Local 4005):
Passed away on 8/31/19 from Cancer.
Paul Ivan Dzuba (Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association IAFF Local 3888):
Passed away on 9/12/19 from Brain Cancer.
Michael Ford (Slidell Firefighters Association Local 2455):
Passed away on 9/13/19 from Liver Cancer.
Mickel W. Zainfeld (Crowlitz Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 3828):
Passed away on 9/19/19 due to PTSD.
Kenneth Dale Stavinoha (Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association IAFF Local 341):
Passed away on 9/21/19 from a Heart Attack.
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REMEMBERING OUR LOCAL 27
BROTHERS & SISTERS:
Fire Fighter John O. Tennesen (Ret.):
Passed away on 9/12/19.
Fire Fighter Patrick J. Brock (Ret.):
Passed away on 9/18/19.
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About Seattle Fire Fighters Union, Local 27:
The Seattle Fire Department became a paid, professional department in 1889 with 32 fire fighters, but it wasn’t until 1917 that the original City Fire Fighters Union No. 15462 was organized. In 1918, the International Association of Fire Fighters was established and the City Fire Fighters Union was admitted as Local 27, one of 218 charter locals. Local 27 has made significant improvements in wages, hours, and working conditions. These advances were due to the hard work and dedication of union officers and the solidarity and support of the membership. For more information, visit iaff27.com.
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