In the month of February South King Fire and Rescue responded to 1356 calls including 35 fires, 23 serious car accidents and nine CPR calls with three successful resuscitations. Some of our calls for help are for minor illnesses, in fact 162 of our calls were for people that had fallen and just needed help getting back on their feet.
The fires included a near tragedy on February 11th when a homeowner in the 33200 block of 26 Ave SW cleaned out her fireplace ashes, placed them in a plastic bag and set them on the back porch. She later moved them to a trash can on the side of the home. Sometime during the night the residual heat in the ashes started the can on fire. Fortunately a neighbor noticed the fire next to the house before it caught the house on fire.
Did you know that fireplace ashes can hold their heat for days? Always store ashes in a metal can and drown with water before placing in the trash.
A second home 29600 block of 23 Ave SW was completely consumed by a fire on February 26. Neighbors reported smelling smoke in the general neighborhood and an engine was dispatched to investigate. They found a home at the end of a 2000 foot single lane private road that was fully engulfed in flame. No one was home at the time of the fire, the homes isolation and poor access all contributed to the total loss of this older waterfront home. The official cause of the fire is still under investigation but It is believed that a space heater may have been a contributing factor. (photo)
Be sure that combustibles are kept away from any heating source and are turned off when you are not at home
Earlier in the month a gentleman cleaning his pistol accidentally shot himself in the thigh, he then tried to drive himself to the fire station but pulled over into a parking lot and called 911 after becoming lightheaded from shock. He was treated and transported to Harborview trauma center.
The Fire Department makes house-calls. Don’t drive yourself to a fire station; the best way to get help is to let us come to you.