September 2020
Here’s the latest news impacting Seattle Fire Fighters…
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Photo Courtesy of KIRO 7 News Staff |
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Seattle passes 100,000 COVID-19 test swabs at community testing sites
Seattle passed 100,000 COVID-19 test swabs at its community testing sites Friday, according to the Seattle Fire Department. The 100,000th test was a man in his late 20s who got tested after exposure to the virus. Seattle currently has three free testing sites across the city as part of a partnership with UW Medicine and King County.
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Firefighters launch virtual ‘Fill the Boot’ campaign
As the COVID-19 pandemic affects communities across the United States, it has also wreaked havoc on fundraising for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, according to the International Association of Fire Fighters. For 66 years, IAFF members have been standing on sidewalks asking passers-by to fill a firefighter’s boot with dimes, quarters, dollar bills, and more. This year, due to social distancing, that’s not possible. This summer, Fill the Boot will be conducted virtually at https://filltheboot.donordrive.com.
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Seattle Firefighters Make COVID-19 Tests Part of Job
It’s like getting pool water up your nose, they’ll tell you. Or wasabi. But it doesn’t last long. Maybe five seconds per nostril with a six-inch swabber that reaches the sinus cavity where COVID-19 likes to live. Then you’re done. That’s how Seattle Fire Department firefighters and paramedics put it when you are tested for the coronavirus. Simple, understandable terms, presented quickly and calmly, while looking you straight in the eye. It’s what they know, it’s how they’re trained, and it’s why they’re thriving as the volunteer army behind a free COVID-19 testing program run by the City of Seattle.
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August Promotion Ceremony
On August 5th, the SFD celebrated the promotions of six lieutenants (three not present), two captains and one battalion chief at our Joint Training Facility. In compliance with social distancing guidelines, the SFD held a live stream for families and colleagues to join in the celebration. Congratulations to these representatives of the Department!
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Photo courtesy of KOMO News |
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Reward offered for information on 3-alarm fire in Beacon Hill
The Arson Alarm Foundation is offering a reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest or conviction for Thursday’s 3-alarm Beacon Hill fire, or any other recent fires intentionally set in the Rainier Avenue South area. On Thursday, Seattle Fire says a massive 3-alarm fire was deliberately set at an apartment building complex under construction in north Beacon Hill.
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Crews battle brush fire near I-5 in Seattle
Seattle Firefighters responded to a brush fire in Georgetown near I-5 Friday afternoon. Crews arrived on scene just before 2:30 p.m. in the area of Airport Way South and South Lucile Street. The fire has been put out. The cause of it is unknown at this time.
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Photo by Patrick Robinson |
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Fire destroys condo unit on 25th SW near Westwood Village
A fire in a condo unit at 9016 25th Ave SW near Barton Street SW destroyed the unit but all occupants got out and there were no reported injuries. The fire in the top, third floor unit completely consumed the contents of the unit and it looked as if water damage to lower units was likely. Since the building is one of ten three story buildings directly across the street from the Westwood Village shopping Center the fire drew a large crowd.
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Car fire causes backup on SR 99 in Seattle
A car fire on State Route 99, just north of the West Seattle Bridge, caused a huge backup Saturday night. Flames could be seen shooting from the vehicle just after 9 p.m. At one point, traffic was stopped until firefighters could put out the flames. Once the fire was out, officials opened one lane of traffic and later reopened all lanes.
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Seattle Fire Department urges water safety after 3rd presumed drowning in 10 days
A search for a swimmer who went missing on Lake Washington has turned into a recovery mission, according to the Seattle Fire Department. A spokesperson for SFD said a man jumped off a boat on Tuesday afternoon and didn't resurface. Rescue crews took to the air, land and water to try and locate the swimmer.
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Photo by KIRO 7 News Staff |
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Water rescue near Seward Park turns into recovery mission
A water rescue for a woman near Seward Park on Sunday has turned into a recovery mission, Seattle fire officials said. Crews were called after 8:30 p.m. Sunday for a report of a woman going underwater. Divers searched for more than an hour and said they were unable to find the woman.
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3 people hurt in shooting near Seattle park
Seattle police are investigating a shooting Monday night in the New Holly neighborhood. The shooting happened near 37th Avenue South near the John C. Little, Sr. Park. Seattle fire officials said three people were hurt but two refused medical treatment for minor injuries.
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Police: 1 arrested for allegedly assaulting officer near Cal Anderson
Seattle Police say two people were arrested Saturday after four officers were injured during a disturbance near Cal Anderson Park. According to police, officers responded to reports of a man breaking windows of a business and church near 11th Avenue and East Olive Street at around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Police say the man used a rock to break windows. When officers arrived, they found the male suspect nearby in Cal Anderson Park.
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Seattle council discusses proposals, possible timeline for cuts to police budget
Seattle Councilmembers are introducing a series of amendments to the city’s budget during a committee meeting on Friday, aiming to set a timeline over the next year-plus for cutting funding for the police department and redirecting it to social services.
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Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service |
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Witnesses Sought As Fire Burns In Olympic National Park
A wildfire that has burned dozens of acres near the picturesque Lake Crescent area of Olympic National Park was likely started by humans, according to fire investigators. The East Beach Road Fire was first reported to park officials Wednesday and burned at least 63 acres by Thursday afternoon. While the fire's origin remains under investigation, early indications point toward a human ignition source, investigators said.
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1st big Southern California wildfire of 2020 keeps on raging
A huge wildfire in mountains east of Los Angeles that is Southern California’s biggest blaze so far this year was still raging Monday, with thousands of people forced to evacuate their homes. The blaze in Riverside County, among several wildfires across California, had consumed more than 41 square miles (about 106 square kilometers) of dry brush and timber since it broke out Friday evening, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
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Seattle Fire Department Urges Residents Not To Leave Kids Or Pets In The Car
This year, as we live through the stress and momentous change of an historic global pandemic, summer's warm, sunny days gives us a chance to physically and emotionally lighten up. It's the perfect time to spend time in the sunshine – albeit with sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and now socially distanced and masked! But even so, there's no better time to get outside and fully enjoy ourselves with friends and family.
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Seattle Fire Foundation helping to supply crews with PPE
As firefighters respond to more and more scenes of violence, protective gear is more important than ever. The Seattle Fire Foundation provides critical resources to the Department that are in excess of their normal budgetary means in order to increase safety and protect fire fighters.
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Local firefighter lives in trailer for weeks to avoid exposing son to COVID-19
A South King County firefighter spent six weeks away from his family and lived in a trailer in his station’s parking lot to avoid exposing his young son to COVID-19. Doctors told Lt. Chris Mathis and his wife that their son, Barrett, who was born premature in 2018, cannot get a respiratory infection.
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IAFF LINE-OF-DUTY
DEATH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chad Crisp (Chattanooga Fire Fighters Local 820): Passed away on 8/2/20 from Throat Cancer.
J. Gregory Hinzey (Wheeling Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 12): Passed away on 8/2/20 from Pancreatic Cancer.
Gerardo I. Pacheco (Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 341): Passed away on 8/3/20 from an Infectious Disease.
Anthony C. Christensen (Professional Firefighters of Naples, IAFF, Local 2174): Passed away on 8/4/20 from an Infectious Disease.
Jesus De La Rosa, Jr. (Welasco Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 3207): Passed away on 8/8/20 from Pneumonia.
Eric T. Hayashi (Hawaii Fire Fighters Association IAFF Local 1463): Passed away on 8/8/20 from Cardiac Arrest.
Edward F. Suarez (Fitchburg Fire Fighters IAFF Local 3128): Passed away on 8/9/20 from Brain Cancer.
Darrell W. Dabling (Hanford Fire Department’s Union Firefighters, Local I-24): Passed away on 8/13/20 from Colon Cancer.
Brian D. Doherty (Boston Firefighter’s Union Local 718): Passed away on 8/14/20 from Brain Cancer.
Richard A. Petras (Cleveland Fire Fighters IAFF Local 93): Passed away on 8/15/20 from an Infectious Disease.
REMEMBERING OUR LOCAL 27
BROTHERS & SISTERS:
Lieutenant Roy Pilkey (Ret.): Passed away on 07/27/20.
Fire Fighter Leo Sicklebower (Ret.): Passed away on 07/31/20.
Fire Fighter James Richeson (Ret.): Passed away on 07/29/20.
Fire Fighter John Ellis (Ret.): Passed away on 08/14/20.
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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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