Seattle Fire Department

Seattle Fire Department (SFD)
"Dedicated to Saving Lives and Protecting Property"
Agency overview
Established 1889
Annual calls 81,733 (2012)[1]
Employees 1,071
Staffing 211
Fire chief Harold Scoggins
Facilities and equipment
Battalions 5
Stations 34 (Including 1 EMS Headquarters)[2]
Engines 32[3]
Trucks 11[4]
Rescues 1
Ambulances 7 Medic + 5 Aid[5]
Fireboats 4
Website
http://www.seattle.gov/fire/ Department website
IAFF Local 27

The Seattle Fire Department (SFD) provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Seattle, Washington, United States. The Seattle Fire Department is the largest municipal fire department in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle Fire Department's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) division is part of the Medic One program.

In 2012, the Seattle Fire Department responded to 81,733 emergency calls.

History

Seattle's Fire Department was established by City Charter in 1883. The charter provided for equipment purchases, but not for hiring of firefighters. Following the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, a professional fire department was created with five district fire stations. A fire boat was also purchased. The first Fire Chief of the professional department was Gardner Kellogg, who served from 1890 to 1892 and again from 1895 to 1901. A Board of Fire Commissioners was established by the 1890 City Charter to prescribe rules and regulations for the Department. The Board's responsibilities included enforcing rules violations and appointing the Fire Chief and all subordinate officers. The Board was abolished with passage of a new City Charter in 1896.

On July 30, 1914, engine companies and fireboats, including the Duwamish, fought the fire at the Grand Trunk Pacific dock. One fireman from Engine Company No. 5 was killed and 10 others were hurt.

The 1990s

From the summer of 1992 into the winter of 1993 the State of Washington suffered the worst serial arson spree in American history. The first fires occurred the night of August 2, 1992. Over sixty were attributed to the arsonist by the end of October and a task force was established. On February 6 Task Force members went to Paul Keller's apartment and took him in to be interviewed. In about an hour he had confessed to many of the fires. Over one hundred fires after its inception, the arson epidemic came to an end.

The most devastating fire in the Department's history took place on the evening of January 5, 1995. At 7:03 P.M. the first alarm was dispatched to Mary Pang's Food Products, a one‑story frame, block‑long frozen food plant and warehouse at 811 ‑ 7th Ave. S. Heavy fire was noted at the rear of the building. After large streams had darkened much of the fire on the main floor, a fire crew entered for final extinguishment. What was not realized was that the fire, an arson, was in the basement. The fire which was knocked down was just its extension into the 1st floor. The basement fire, burning through a supporting floor beam., caused a section of the floor to drop into the basement as it rushed up into the main level. Firefighters rushed out of the nearest doors and windows to escape the heat., several of them suffering burns. At this point it was known that four of them had not come out. Lieutenants Walter Kilgore and Greg Shoemaker, and Firefighters James Brown and Randall Terlicker were still inside. Because the building now was too unsafe to enter it was not possible to effect a rescue attempt until the flames had been driven back. The 5‑11 alarm assignment effected control by 5:00 A.M. Then the search was on. The last body found, that of Randy Terlicker, was removed shortly before 7:00 P.M. on January 8. The loss of four members at one incident is the most ever suffered by the Seattle Fire Department.

The Pang fire resulted in four independent investigations, which studied the entire operation. The State Department of Labor & Industries, the United States Fire Administration, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs each conducted its own probe. In May, an administration change placed the Safety Officer position directly under the Assistant Chief of Operations rather than the Chief of Training. Chief Rodney Jones, the Safety Officer, disagreed with this decision as it placed the Safety Officer in a subordinate position of the division he was to monitor. He was transferred on May 31, being replaced by Battalion Chief John Hadfield.

When the Department of Labor and Industries completed its investigation, violations were found, including lack of communications within the Department and not providing all possible safety equipment such as flame‑resistant cloth hoods. The greatest violation noted in their report, however, was interference with the Safety Officer and his duties.

The investigation into the cause of the Pang fire pointed to the business owners' son, Martin Pang, as the one responsible for setting it. He was arrested in Rio de Janeiro on March 16, and the long court battle for extradition was under way. When it was over, the Brazilian Supreme Court allowed extradition with the stipulation that he could be tried for arson only. Martin Pang was returned to the King County Jail on February 29, 1996. He was sentenced to thirty‑five years imprisonment on March 24, 1998.

In the wake of the Pang fire, the Safety Officer was upgraded to a Deputy Chief position. One Battalion Chief was assigned as Assistant Safety Officer on each platoon who was subordinate to the Deputy, thus assuring the swift arrival of a Safety Officer at each incident.

After almost thirty‑eight years in the Fire Service, Chief of Department Claude Harris retired, effective December 31, 1996. Assistant Chief Don Taylor served as Interim Chief while the search for a new Chief took place. On May 27, 1997, James Sewell ‑ up to then the Chief of the Ventura County (Calif.) Fire Department ‑ was appointed to the post.

Each spring since 1989, on the weekend nearest June 6, the city has celebrated the Pioneer Square Fire Festival in Pioneer Square with a parade and display of antique and modern fire apparatus, demonstrations of fire fighter skills, food and craft booths, and a party. In 1998, June 6, the anniversary of the 1889 fire, fell on a Saturday. This year the Festival took on additional meaning when the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial was dedicated. Thanks to the work of Battalion Chief Wes Goss and the Memorial Committee the bronze sculpture was now in place. On a granite block is inscribed the name of each Seattle fire fighter who died in the line of duty.[6]

Organization

Rank Structure

The rank structure of the SFD is shown below from most to least senior.

[7]

The Seattle Fire Department has at its head, the Fire Chief, or Chief of Department. Reporting directly to the Chief of Department are 4 Assistant Chiefs in charge of the following department divisions: Resource Management, Safety and Employee Development, Operations, and Fire Prevention/Fire Marshal.

Divisions

Resource Management

The Resource Management Division, commanded by the Resource Management Assistant Chief, is responsible for Finance (headed up by a civilian director), and Information Systems, Support Services, and Communications, each headed up by a deputy chief. The SFD Fire Alarm Center (FAC), or dispatch, is somewhat unusual in that it is staffed by firefighters instead of civilian dispatchers.

Safety and Employee Development

The Safety and Employee Development Division, commanded by the Safety and Development Assistant Chief, is responsible for Training (deputy chief), Human Resources (civilian director), Equal Employment Opportunity (civilian director), and the safety chiefs (4 battalion chiefs, one for each shift).

Operations

The Operations Division, commanded by the Operations Assistant Chief, is organized into 4 Battalions and one Medic Battalion. Each Battalion is commanded by a Battalion chief, who supervises several fire stations. In addition to the on duty battalion chiefs there is an on duty shift commander in the rank of Deputy Chief (DEP1) that commands the Battalion Chiefs and the shifts of operations personnel under the command of the division's Assistant Chief.

Fire Prevention

The Fire Prevention/Fire Marshal Division, commanded by the Fire Prevention/Fire Marshal Assistant Chief commands the Sound Transit Deputy Chief, The Office of the Fire Marshal(Deputy Chief), Special Events(Captain) and Fire Investigation(Captain). [7]

Personnel Profile (2014)

Seattle Firefighters put out a cargo container fire in the Port of Seattle

Staffing

The SFD operates on a four platoon system with A, B, C, and D shifts. All operations division personnel work 24 hour shifts.

Operations

The Battalion headquarters are shown below, as well as what areas or districts of Seattle they command.

(*) In addition to the supervision of the operations companies under their command, Battalion 5 is responsible for the Heavy Rescue/Dive Teams. (**) In addition to the supervision of the operations companies under their command, Battalion 7 is responsible for the Marine unit, including the Fireboats. Deputy 1 supervises the Haz-Mat. Unit. (***) Formerly Battalion 2, now staffed only if the city has an extra battalion chief on duty. Battalion 22 duties were assumed by Deputy 1 as a cost saving measure.

For each battalion there are 4 battalion chiefs, one for each shift. One battalion chief in each battalion is designated as the supervising chief of that battalion. Due to budgetary restraints, Battalion 2 was placed out of service in 2012 and the Battalion 2 chiefs's duties were assumed by Deputy 1.

The 3rd Battalion Chief oversees the Medic One program and department's paramedics. This position is actually filled by a deputy chief that oversees all four platoons. The on duty medic supervisor is a lieutenant/paramedic and is designated Medic 44 (M44).

Apparatus Profile (2014)

Seattle Fire Department Engine 25
Seattle Fire Department Ladder 6
Seattle Fire Department Medic 80
Seattle Fire Department Battalion 6

Frontline Fire Companies

Medic and Aid Ambulances

Command Units and Chiefs

Special and Support Units

Other units that may be heard over Seattle Fire Department Radio are either reserve units or rare units that aren't in service always. Such as:

Fire Station Locations and Apparatus

The SFD is currently in the middle of remodeling and replacing many stations under the Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Levy. As such some of the addresses below will be changing or certain stations may have been moved to temporary quarters while their station is remodeled.

Below is a complete listing of all fire station and apparatus locations in the city of Seattle according to Battalion.

Engine Company Ladder Company Medic/Aid Unit Special Unit Chief Battalion Address Neighborhood
Engine 2, Engine 5 Ladder 4 Aid 2 Reserve Engine, Reserve Aid Unit 2 2334 4th Ave. Belltown/Northern Downtown
Engine 3(Fireboat "Chief Seattle") Reserve Engine 7 1735 W. Thurman St. Commodore Marina/Fisherman's Terminal
Engine 1(Fireboat), Engine 4(Fireboat "Leschi") 7 2001 W. Garfield St. Terminal 91
Engine 6 Ladder 3 5 405 Martin Luther King Jr Way S. Central District/Yesler Way
Engine 8 Ladder 6 4 110 Lee St. Upper Queen Anne
Engine 9 Reserve Air Unit 4 3829 Linden Ave. N. Fremont/Wallingford
Engine 10 Ladder 1 Aid 5, Aid 10 AIR9(Air Bottle Unit), HAZ1(Haz-Mat. Unit), HAZ80(Reserve Haz-Mat. Unit) 2 400 S. Washington St. Southern Downtown
Engine 11 7 1514 S.W. Holden St. Highland Park
Engine 13 Battalion 55(Reserve) Battalion 5 5 3601 Beacon Ave. S. Beacon Hill
Ladder 7 Aid 14 Rescue 1, Rescue 80(Reserve), Squad 14 5 3224 4th Ave. S. SODO
Engine 16 Reserve Engine 6 6846 Oswego Pl. N.E. Green Lake/Roosevelt District
Engine 17 Ladder 9 Medic 16 Reserve Aid Unit, Battalion 66(Reserve) Battalion 6 6 1050 N.E. 50th St. University District
Engine 18 Ladder 8 Medic 18 HOSE18(Hose/Foam Unit), Reserve Engine, Reserve Ladder, Reserve Medic Unit, Battalion 44(Reserve) Battalion 4 4 1521 N.W. Market St. Ballard
Engine 20 4 3205 13th Ave. W. West Queen Anne
Engine 21 MCI1(Multiple Casualty Incident Unit) 4 7304 Greenwood Ave. N. Greenwood/Phinney Ridge
Engine 22 COMVAN(Command Unit) 6 901 E. Roanoke St. Roanoke/Montlake
Engine 24 AIR240(Mobile Air Compressor) 4 401 N. 130th St. Bitter Lake/North Aurora
Engine 25 Ladder 10 Aid 25 MVU1(Mobile Ventilation Unit), P25(CO2/Purple K Unit), Reserve Ladder, Battalion 225(Reserve) Battalion 22 2 1300 E. Pine St. Capitol Hill
Engine 26 AIR260(Mobile Air Compressor), Reserve Air Bottle Unit 7 800 S. Cloverdale St. South Park
Engine 27 MMST(Metro Medical Strike Team), USAR(U.S.A.R. Trailer), DECON1, REHAB1 5 1000 S. Myrtle St. Georgetown
Engine 28 Ladder 12 Medic 28 Strike Team, Ladder Strike Team, Reserve Medic Unit 5 5968 Rainier Ave. S. Rainier Valley
Engine 29 Reserve Engine, Battalion 77(Reserve) Battalion 7 7 2139 Ferry Ave. S.W. Alki
Engine 30 Reserve Engine 5 2931 Mt. Baker Blvd. S. Mt. Baker
Engine 31 Ladder 5 Medic 31 Reserve Aid Unit 6 1319 N. Northgate Way Northgate/South Aurora
Engine 32 Ladder 11 Medic 32 Reserve Medic Unit 7 3715 S.W. Alaska St. Primary West Seattle
Engine 33 Reserve Engine 5 9645 Renton Ave. S. Rainier Beach
Engine 34 HOSE34(Hose/Foam Unit) 2 633 32nd Ave. E. Madison Park
Engine 35 Reserve Engine, Reserve Ladder 4 8729 15th Ave. N.W. Crown Hill
Engine 36 MARVAN(Marine Incident Unit) 7 3600 23rd Ave. S.W. Harbor Island
Engine 37 Reserve Engine 7 7700 35th Ave. S.W. High Point
Engine 38 Engine 85(Reserve) 6 4004 N.E. 55th St. Laurelhurst/Windermere
Engine 39 Reserve Engine 6 2806 N.E. 127th St. Lake City/Pinehurst
Engine 40 Reserve Engine 6 9401 35th Ave. N.E. Wedgwood
Engine 41 4 2416 34th Ave. W. Magnolia
Medic 1, Medic 10 Medic 80(Reserve) Medic 44(EMS Supervisor) 3 325 9th Ave. Harborview Medical Center
SAFT2, STAFF10 DEP1(Tour Commander) 2 301 2nd Ave. S. Southern Downtown

Other fire department facilities

Headquarters is the former station 10. It houses the office of the fire chief as well as some of the administrative and support offices of the fire department. There is also a fire museum maintained by the Last Resort Fire Department featuring a rotating display of fire apparatus and fire memorabilia from the SFD.
The Joint Training Facility (JTF) is a joint undertaking by the Seattle Fire Department and Seattle Public Utilities. On site there are training facilities for high rise, high angle rescue, collapse/urban search and rescue (USAR), trench rescue, confined space rescue, an overpass training prop, a burn building with multiple faces to mimic a variety of commercial and residential structures, a driving/Emergency Vehicle Accident Prevention (EVAP) training pad, and a vehicle fire/foam training pad. There is a large classroom and administration building, an exercise pavilion, and an apparatus building with space for the training division apparatus. The department uses this facility to conduct initial recruit training as well as annual technical rescue, Operational Skills Enhancement Training (OSET), and driver/EVAP training.[8]
Facility for the repair and maintenance of all fire department apparatus.
The commissary provides material support to the fire department by ordering and managing supplies and equipment other than apparatus.

Closed/Disbanded Fire Companies

Apparatus Specifications

Below is a complete list of all SFD apparatus, their manufacturer and specifications, and date.[9]

Engine Companies

Ladder Companies

Communications

Response Protocol

Fire Response

Rescue Response

Aid Response

Medic Response

Misc. Response

In popular culture

References

  1. ↑ "Annual Response Totals". City of Seattle. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  2. ↑ "About Seattle Fire Department". City of Seattle. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  3. ↑ "Apparatus Showcase". City of Seattle. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  4. ↑ "Apparatus Showcase". City of Seattle. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  5. ↑ "Apparatus Showcase". City of Seattle. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  6. ↑ SFD History:The 1990s. SFD History:The 1990s. Seattle Firefighters IAFF Local 27. Retrieved 25 JUL 2009.</
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Seattle Fire Department Policies and Operating Guidelines. City of Seattle. 2009
  8. ↑ http://www.seattle.gov/fleetsfacilities/firelevy/facilities/jtf/training.htm Joint Training Facility. City of Seattle. Retrieved 25 JUL 09
  9. ↑ http://www.seattle.gov/fire/photoGallery/apparatusShowcase/showcaseMenu.htm

External links

Coordinates: 47°36′00″N 122°19′55″W / 47.60000°N 122.33194°W