Published Sunday, March 17, 2024, 2030 hours PST

Saturday and Sunday saw a lot of fires which broke out all over Washington State. Here are the areas hit by them.

LOCAL NORTHWEST FIRE NEWS (WA/OR)

Airport Way South and South Stevens Street, Seattle (King County), Washington

Saturday: A large brush fire prompted the FAC (Fire Alarm Center) to dispatch several units to the area. No injuries were reported.

3400 block of 34th Avenue West, Seattle (King County), Washington

Saturday: Around 1735 hours on Sunday, firefighters were dispatched to a structure fire in a residence, which turned out to be another common fire response, “food on the stove” and was quickly put out.

11000 block of 71st Place South Seattle (King County), Washington

Saturday: Firefighters responded to a fire in the laundry room of a home in this area. All occupants were able to escape the burning structure safely. There were no reported injuries and firefighters quickly ventilated the smoke from the home.

2200 block of 1st Avenue, Seattle (King County), Washington

Sunday: Firefighters were called on Sunday evening around 1906 hours PST to a residential building. Quickly, firefighters egressed and were able to keep the fire from extending and put the fire out. One room in a unit on the third floor of the building was damaged. Six patients were evaluated by Seattle (King County) Fire Medics. A 64-year-old female was transported to the nearest hospital in stable condition. Due to the fire, nine displaced fire evacuees were being assisted by the Red Cross Disaster Response Team. The cause of the fire is unknown and under investigation.

Slavin Road, West Valley Fire – Rescue, Yakima (Yakima County), Washington

Saturday: Yesterday, was the first fire of the year for this year as more and more residents start their outdoor residential burning. Multiple fires broke out on Slavin Road which prompted firefighters with the West Valley Fire-Rescue agency to respond and put them out.

Later on that day, they had responded to another fire that broke out in Gilbert. | (Left) Photo Credit: Yakima Valley Fire-Rescue

Amick Road, Skagit County, Washington

Sunday: At 0100 hours PDT, firefighters with the Big Lake Fire Department and Cedardale Fire (mutual aid) responded to a shop fire about 30 feet from the main house. The homeowner who was alerted to sounds from the well-involved fire, managed to evacuate from their home safely. Due to quick egress by all (volunteer) firefighters on the scene, they were able to stop the fire from spreading to exposure (main house) building(s). Due to no hydrants in the area (rural), one tender (3,500 gallons) was brought in by mutual aid to assist Big Lake Fire’s 8,100-gallon water tender. 19 volunteer firefighters responded in less than 10 minutes (from the time of dispatch to arrive on the scene). Preliminary cause: a cordless tool with batteries on its charger. It is still under investigation by the Skagit County Marshal’s Office.

Firefighter Passes Grueling Indiana Smokediver’s class, Tacoma (Pierce County), Washington

Last week, but announced Sunday: Tacoma Firefighter Jon Quon (Ladder 1 C Shift) has achieved one of the most grueling (his fire agency says) firefighting classes, which is six days of being pushed to understand and manage their physical and mental limitations under safe but stressful realistic conditions.

Their mission is to prevent death and injury by training firefighters to be adaptable and to develop critical decision-making skills in high-stress environments. This course is said to be the toughest in the firefighting world with only a 32% pass rate. Congratulations on your highest achievement! | Photo Credits: Tacoma Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 31

Calling all Fire Chief Candidates, Washington State Fire Fighters’ Association

This class is being offered at their Annual Fire School and Conference in Wenatchee being held May 16-19, 2024. You must register online through wsffa.org

Redmond Fire & Rescue Installs New Fire Chief, Oregon

A new Chief is in town. Let’s all welcome, Fire Chief Herrera who was welcomed this weekend starting in his new role with the Redmond Fire & Rescue, agency. He originally started his Fire Service career as a Firefighter/EMT in the Port Orchard Fire Department and then spent a total of 26 years with the South King Fire & Rescue in Washington State. Congratulations, Chief Herrera! | Photo Credit: Bend Fire & Rescue

U.S. FIRE NEWS

Mutual Aid Fire Agencies Join The Ranks in the State of Oklahoma

Saturday: The South Fork Fire and Rescue (Colorado) agency has deployed to Okmulgee, Oklahoma. This is considered a BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) severity assignment to help respond to new fire starts that are impacting Native trust lands. Some of these have included backburns to prevent the fire from spreading. | (R) Photo Credit: South Fork Fire & Rescue

Morgan’s Landing Apartments, Wichita Kansas

Saturday: Local media is reporting a large fire broke out at the Morgan’s Landing Apartments in Wichita, Kansas on Saturday night, critically injuring a female resident. The fire was out on the second floor and prompted others to be rescued from the structure.

154 Division Street, Manahawkin, New Jersey

Saturday: The Stafford Township Police stated a structure fire was reported at 0300 hours, prompting the Police, Fire Department, and EMS to respond to the ground. It was quickly contained to the garage only. All occupants and pets were able to self-extricate themselves safely from the home and no one was reported to be injured. The preliminary disclosure of the cause is said to be that of the fire starting in the garage as a result of a battery malfunction. Agencies include Barnegat Fire, Waretown Fire, Forked River Fire Fast Team, Berkeley Township HAZMAT, and Stafford Township Fire Prevention.

GLOBAL FIRE NEWS

Al-Ahram Studio, Cairo, Egypt

Saturday: Reports from local Social Media users state the historic studio in “Hollywood on the Nile” caught fire after a huge devastating fire destroyed the 80-year-old studio in Cairo, Egypt on Saturday night (2134 hours EDT). Due to several exposure buildings, the fire spread to adjacent structures.

Sichuan (Yajiang County), China

Saturday: A firestorm is burning in Yajiang County in Sichuan, China.

Bozhou Airport, China

Saturday: The preliminary cause of a fire that broke out at the Bozhou Airport in China was said to be that of electricians/welders working in the area.

Kho-e-Khandaran Area, Pakistan

Saturday: A forest fire is burning in the Border area of Barkhan & Kholu (in the Khandaran area). It was reported this afternoon and it would soon spread, increasing in size. Bothe Forest Department and Levies Force Barhank are on the scene which are working together. The PEOC PDMA is Unified (using American wildfire terminology) and the District District Administration. | Photo Credit: PDMA Balochistan

(c) 2024 NW Fire Blog