Department News

Fire Department Fights Three Alarm Fire: Over 70 firefighters from South King Fire & Rescue, SeaTac, Kent, Renton, Burien, North Highline, Port of Seattle, and Seattle Fire responded to a three alarm fire at the abandoned Viewporter Apartments at 19315 International Blvd.  The fire was reported at 1:30 AM on May 30, first units arrived within 5 minutes.  Battalion Chief John Madson assigned units to protect the Comfort Inn Suites as it was directly exposed to fire and smoke damage.  Despite these efforts, the Comfort Inn did suffer some smoke damage.  Fortunately, no major injuries were reported.  The cause has been determined as arson.  SeaTac Fire appreciates the assistance of King County Sheriff for traffic control, King County Sheriff's Search and Rescue for their cadaver dogs, and Public Works for blocking off streets and assuring the storm water runoff was not an issue with all the water flowed to suppress the fire.

Water Rescue: On June 3, at approximately 7:15 PM, Fire Department units responded to a call from a mother concerned for her children and friends who were unable to return to the shore in a boat on Angle Lake.  Upon arrival, Battalion 45 found a sinking inflatable mattress approximately 300 yards from shore with five youths on board, none with Personal Floatation Devices (PFD's).  The Renton Fire Department dive team and North Highline Fire Boat 28 were also called.  Three of the five youths started to swim toward the dock and seemed to be in distress as they bobbed below the water several times.  The crew commandeered a small aluminum boat with an electric motor to approach the youths. Engine 45's crew was unable to pull any of the swimmers out of the water, as the boat was too small and unstable, so they escorted all five youths to the swimming dock, allowing the swimmers to stop and rest along the way.

While at the scene of the first call, Engine 45's crew observed a second inflatable boat, severely overloaded with two adults and four children. North Highline's Boat 28 was sent with two firefighters and extra PFD's.  They made contact with the second group in distress, and were able to outfit all but one of the six with PFD.  Boat 28 towed in the second boat and all six persons to shore without incident.

Last fall, SeaTac Fire crews attended water rescue training and outfitted the apparatus with surface water rescue equipment, which complies with National Fire Protection Association standards. Since obtaining this equipment and training, the SeaTac Fire department has responded to several water rescues.

Fire Department Responds to Apartment Building Fire: On June 10, at approximately 5:30 AM, SeaTac, Fire District 2, South King, and Tukwila Fire Departments responded to an apartment building fire at 19241 11th Place South.  Units arrived and found smoke coming from the roof and in several units.  Crews attacked the fire from within the two units and cut holes in the roof to attack the fire in the attic area.  Battalion Chief Jeff Richardson notified Red Cross to get assistance for ten people who were displaced due to smoke and water damage to the building.  The cause of the fire was a recessed light fixture that was too close to the insulation in the attic.