びびなび : シアトル : (アメリカ合衆国) Seattle

Seattle Responder - April 2025 Edition



Seattle Fire Department logo




2024 portrait of Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins
Message from the Fire Chief

We start the spring season with exciting news! The Seattle fire Department will be moving to an annual testing process for entry-level firefighter hiring. Our next application window will open in late 2025. If you are interested in a career in the fire service and with our department, sign-up for our interest list [ https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WASEATTLE/subscriber/new?qsp=WASEATTLE_9 ] [ https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WASEATTLE/subscriber/new?qsp=WASEATTLE_9 ]to receive updates on the hiring process and visit seattlefirejobs.com to learn more. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for service to others.  

As we begin to see more warm weather, you'll see our firefighters out in neighborhoods inspecting the hydrants in their district. We inspect all hydrants annually to ensure they are working properly and will provide sufficient water when needed for fighting a fire. Inspecting hydrants can help save lives and protect property. If you experience temporarily discolored water, check out our tips [ https://fireline.seattle.gov/2024/04/25/hydrant-inspections-and-what-to-do-if-you-experience-temporarily-discolored-water/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] developed in collaboration with Seattle Public Utilities for helping it clear.  

From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on April 24 we will celebrate the exemplary work of our employees and heroic actions of community members with an awards ceremony.* The Seattle Fire Department annual award ceremony is sold out!* You can still to join us by watching this Livestream link for Awards Ceremony - April 24, 2025 [ https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ODdkNWU1NjItYTMzOC00MGE0LWIyYmUtZGI3ODAzYzVlZDdj%40thread.v2/0?btype=a&context=%7B%22Tid%22%3A%2278e61e45-6beb-4009-8f99-359d8b54f41b%22%2C%22Oid%22%3A%220ad9fdcd-888c-4f0a-892d-711c69a55d6f%22%2C%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3Atrue%2C%22role%22%3A%22a%22%7D&role=a&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]. 

In March, we recognized Women's History Month and honored the incredible women who have shaped our department, community and world, and in April we celebrate Arab American Heritage Month. Last year, members of the SFD formed an Ethnic Minorities Alliance which seeks to provide a positive place where firefighters from all ethnic minority communities can come together without judgement or exclusion. 

Stay safe,

*"Harold D. Scoggins, Fire Chief"*

"""We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope"." — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."






Significant incidents


Firefighters inside an apartment building fire.

Photo by John Odegard

*Feb. 28: 2-Alarm fire in the 1800 block of 12th Ave. [ https://fireline.seattle.gov/2025/02/28/2-alarm-fire-in-the-capitol-hill-neighborhood/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]*

Crews extinguished a fire in two units of an apartment building in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. No injuries were reported. Investigators ruled the fire as accidental and determined it was likely caused by an overloaded power strip.



Firefighters at a vacant building fire.

Photo by Derek Williamson

*March 10: Vacant building fire in the 9000 block of 16th Ave. SW*

Firefighters extinguished a fire in a vacant residential building in the Delridge neighborhood. No injuries were reported. Investigators ruled the fire was intentionally set and shared their findings with Seattle Police.







In the community

Women's History Month recap
Archive of Black Seattle firefighters

Janet Beal center - Courtesy of the Seattle Municipal Archives, #73024, Series 2801-09

In honor of Women’s History Month, we spotlighted Janet Beal, the first Black woman firefighter hired by the Seattle Fire Department. In 1980, Janet Beal was part of recruit class #40 in which all 12 women made it through drill school. In 1996, Ms. Beal was promoted to Lieutenant and became the first Black woman to hold rank in the Seattle Fire Department. Lt. Beal retired in 2014 after 34 years of service to the community.

Seattle Fire's women in firefighting

The SFD honors the incredible women who have shaped our world with strength, wisdom and resilience. From pioneers in science to first responders, artists, activists and everyday heroes, women have always been at the forefront of change.

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Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Firefighter Stairclimb
Firefighters climbed all 69 floors of the Columbia tower

In March, many of our members participated in the Firefighter Stairclimb at Seattle's Columbia Tower to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. They joined firefighters from across the Nation in climbing 69 flights of stairs (1,356 steps) in full turnout gear. If you'd like to donate to this important cause, there is still time! Please consider doing so through our team site [ https://www.llswa.org/site/TR/LLSWA/llswaFF?fbclid=IwY2xjawJauftleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHUx7_PiWeiT4DtLAS6vodrY0qJ0LAnWCYnNt-1k2CkDvvQM4uPQ-FhRH0Q_aem_cOsyQuv2jfhmWq9E39trMA&fr_id=1750&pg=team&team_id=75192&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] to help us meet our goal. 

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Rescue swimmer training
Seattle Fire's rescue swim team

Seattle Fire's Rescue Swimmer cadre takes a group photo...submerged! They conducted their annual requalification swim test and a module training at Helene Madison pool, which included a major entanglement prop with hose water harassment, high entry, rescue can use and rescue swimmer emergency procedures.

Rescue swimmers utilize the peak inhalation technique to maximize the volume of air in their lungs before going subsurface and train to work calmly and methodically underwater on breath hold dives. You can tell by their relaxed poses in this photo (taken by Fire Dog Photos) that their training is paying off.

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Multi-casualty incident drill
Medical Ambulance Bus
Firefighters in a training exercise

Engine 39 attended a Multi Casualty Incident drill with the South King County Fire Training Consortium. They brought Seattle Fire's Medical Ambulance Bus (MAB), which can be utilized outside of the City of Seattle as a resource for the region. Training with our partner agencies helps us to prepare for more wide-scale incidents when several jurisdictions may be involved.



While this drill was focused on an active shooter scenario, the MAB can be utilized for a multitude of incidents or scenarios. As an example, the MAB was utilized in Seattle during the cold weather spell in 2024, to help bring unhoused individuals to local warming shelters.

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Patient reunification at Station 9
Patient reunification at Station 9

On Sept. 14, 2024, Eric Rimling suffered a cardiac arrest while on a run around Green Lake. A bystander immediately recognized the symptoms of cardiac arrest and began performing CPR. A crew from AMR happened to be in the area and was flagged down to assist. The AMR crew jumped right into action taking over CPR until crews from Seattle Fire Engine 9, Aid 31 and Medic 17 arrived. Medic 17 transported Eric to Harborview Medical Center where he made his recovery.

In March, Eric and his family stopped by Station 9 to meet the crews from Seattle Fire and AMR that helped save his life. Eric is back to running, skiing and spending time with his family, which he says - is thanks to the quick actions of everyone who came to his aid that day.

This serves as an example of the importance of knowing bystander CPR. Learn more about the Seattle Fire Department’s Medic 2 Bystander CPR Training [ https://seattle.gov/fire/safety-and-community/medic-ii-cpr-training?fbclid=IwY2xjawJaws1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHSv7eO54dU7KtTF5eUwZoem_Lkfxwhsh_FutB1xfYCbwJRLK2wDw_ERchg_aem_qGBSK3XWrLc9rIVhQsZ4ug&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] program and the classes we teach.

Keeping you safe

Hydrant inspections – and what to do if you experience temporarily discolored water

Fire hydrant

The 19,000 fire hydrants located within the City of Seattle are maintained and repaired by Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), and are inspected by the Seattle Fire Department (SFD). Firefighters inspect all fire hydrants across the City on an annual basis to ensure they are working properly and will provide sufficient water when needed for fighting a fire. Inspecting hydrants can help save lives and protect property. 

The SFD strives to inspect each hydrant within City limits once per year. Inspections occur between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and when the temperature is above 35 degrees. If you live near a fire hydrant that has recently been inspected, your drinking water may appear discolored for up to a few hours. This can happen when hydrant flushing changes the direction or rate of flow in a nearby water main. The discoloration comes from internal pipe rust and sediment getting stirred up. Drinking the water is not harmful but the water can be unsightly.



*If you experience discolored water, SPU recommends running the cold water for a few minutes to see if it is clearing or still discolored. If the water does not clear, let the water sit for one to two hours. Then run cold water for a few minutes in your bathtub or shower. Do not run the hot water to try to clear the water. If the water remains discolored, please contact SPU’s 24/7 Operations Response Center at (206) 386-1800.* 

SFD and SPU are working in partnership to help minimize discolored water when hydrants are inspected. The two departments are also sharing information to help keep customers informed about inspections that may have occurred in their neighborhood. This includes a procedure in place whereby SFD notifies SPU’s Operation Response Center just prior to flowing water." "Hydrant inspections within neighborhoods is dependent on when the fire station is able to work it into their schedule in between emergency calls and training. Firefighters may plan for or be in the middle of conducting hydrant inspections and get pulled away to an emergent incident, having to push inspections to a later date, which is why advance notice for inspecting the City’s 19,000 hydrants from within 33 fire station districts is unfortunately not feasible.

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Spring fire safety tips
Family cleaning their home [ https://fireline.seattle.gov/2024/03/27/its-time-to-spring-into-preventive-home-cleaning/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]

As we gear up for spring and tackle those home and yard projects, it’s essential to prioritize fire safety every step of the way. Please check out our helpful safety tips and recommendations [ https://fireline.seattle.gov/2024/03/27/its-time-to-spring-into-preventive-home-cleaning/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] to minimize the risk of fires and associated hazards.





Events

May 10 King County Diversity and Recruitment Workshop
King County Diversity and Recruitment Workshop [ https://www.kingcountyfirechiefs.org/event-details/recruitmentworkshop?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]

Fire departments across King County are looking for future firefighters and are expanding recruitment efforts to provide applicants with useful information on navigating the hiring process. Mentors from the profession will also be available to workshop attendees. The next Diversity and Recruitment Workshop [ https://www.kingcountyfirechiefs.org/event-details/recruitmentworkshop?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] is on May 10 at Green River College in Auburn.  

This workshop is open to EVERYONE at least 16 years of age and we welcome members of the BIPOC community, women, bilingual adults, LGBTQIA+ or those with no prior fire service experience.












*Seattle Fire Department*

301 2nd Avenue South

Seattle, WA 98104

*Phone: 206-386-1400*

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