During the month of February, South King Fire and Rescue responded to 1,356 calls, including 35 fires, 23 serious car accidents and nine CPR calls, with three successful resuscitations. Some of the district’s calls for help were for minor illnesses and 162 calls were for people who fell and just needed help getting back on their feet.
The following is a roundup of some of the calls that South King Fire and Rescue responded to:
Ashes ignite: On Feb. 11, 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.
Waterfront home destroyed: A home in the 29600 block of 23 Ave. SW was completely consumed by a fire on Feb. 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 2,000 foot single lane private road that was fully engulfed in flame. No one was home at the time of the fire. The home’s 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 officials believe a space heater may have been a contributing factor.
Be sure that combustibles are kept away from any heating source and are turned off when you are not at home.
Man accidentally shoots himself: Earlier in the month, a man 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 South King Fire and Rescue come to you.
