MY EVERETT NEWS

The home is a total loss but did not spread to the garage

Fire spread from under the home thru the walls to the attic

Firefighters in rehab and staging

Crews from Fire District 1 were called to the 12200 Block of Nels Peters Road shortly before 7am Saturday to a report of a mobile home on fire. Leslie Hynes, spokesperson for Fire District 1, said that when crews arrived they found heavy smoke coming from the home. A couple live in the home and were able to escape the blaze. Hynes says the first firefighter in the door fell thru the floor but was quickly pulled up and was not injured. Firefighters then went to a defensive mode. Hynes says they think the fire may have started underneath the mobile home and spread thru the walls and up to the attic. The home will be a total loss. There were no injuries. In addition to Fire District 1 crews from District 7 and Mukilteo also provided mutual aid.

More than a dozen people were displaced. photo credit Leslie Hynes FD1

Leslie Hynes of Fire District 1 has the details on a New Year’s Fire that displaced more than a dozen people early this morning…

Two residents were evaluated for smoke inhalation at an early-morning apartment fire south of Everett that caused more than $200,000 damage and displaced 14 people.

Residents of the Hampton Court apartments in the 11200 block of 9th Pl. W reported the fire in a two-story, four-unit building at 2:52 a.m.

“A 20-year-old man discovered the fire on the back deck of the second-floor apartment he shares with his mother. He woke his mother and a guest. The guest used a fire extinguisher, but the fire was too big for him to fight,” said Leslie Hynes, public information officer for Snohomish County Fire District 1. “Flames from the deck had already spread to the roof and attic when firefighters arrived.”

All residents safely exited the building. A woman and a teenage boy, who both attempted to enter the burning building, were evaluated at the scene for exposure to smoke. The teenager was transported by aid unit to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett for further evaluation and treatment.

More than 25 firefighters from Fire District 1, Mukilteo and Lynnwood responded and had the fire under control in about 30 minutes. “They kept the fire from spreading to other units in the building,” Hynes said.

Firefighters searching the building located three cats that survived in the apartment where the fire started.

The apartment where the fire started was heavily damaged. The roof will also need to be replaced. Residents of all four units in the building will be displaced until repairs can be made. Some may be able to relocate to vacant units in the same apartment complex. None of the residents have insurance. Red Cross responded to provide assistance.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office. Investigators are looking at two possible causes: smoking materials or an electrical appliance that may been in use on the deck prior to the fire.

Window screens only prevent bugs from getting in, not kids falling out.

A three-year old girl was transported to Harborview hospital Saturday morning after falling more than 10 feet out of an apartment window. Leslie Hynes from Fire District 1 provides the details…

Firefighters were called at 10:24 a.m. to the 1200 block of 113th St. SW where the girl fell more than 10 feet from the apartment window onto asphalt. “The girl was crying loudly when firefighters arrived. Her injuries appeared to be minor. Because a fall like this has the potential to cause internal injuries that might not be immediately apparent, paramedics transported the girl to Harborview Medical Center as a precaution,” said Leslie Hynes, public information officer for Snohomish County Fire District 1.

“There had been a screen on the window, but the child apparently pushed up against it. Screens are designed to keep bugs out, and can’t support the weight of even a small child,” Hynes said.

She urged parents of young children to be aware of the dangers open windows can pose. Fire District 1 offers these safety tips:

· Adult supervision is key. Unattended children run the greatest risk of falls and injuries, so the best first step is to watch children as they play.

· Keep furniture that children can climb on away from windows.

· Do not depend on window screens to prevent children from falling. Screens can easily give way under a child’s weight.

· Consider installing window guards. Be sure that these guards meet new federal standards for escape in the event of a fire. Window guards can be found at hardware stores and children’s specialty stores.

Both the recycling center and the solid waste facility were closed today.

The Solid Waste Management Facility at Paine Field in South Everett was closed today following a spill of unknown material. According to Leslie Hynes, Spokesperson for Fire District 1, around 12:25pm three 55 gallon drums were dropped from the upper loading area to the lower area. One of the drums opened and an unknown liquid began seeping out of the barrel. The transfer station was evacuated and three employees have been undergoing observation. Hynes says so far the workers haven’t shown any negative reaction. Fire crews worked throughout the early afternoon trying to identify the substance. Minuteman Drive between Airport Road and 112th has been shut down. Fire crews from Fire District 1, Paine Field, Mukilteo and Lynnwood all responded. We’ll post an update once its issued.
Updated 4:15pm: Got this from Leslie Hynes…A reconnaissance team in protective gear went into the transfer and tested a sample of the liquid. These tests determined it was a non-hazardous, petroleum-based solvent.

Fire District 1, which serves the unincorporated area of south Everett as well as south Snohomish County, Brier, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace and Woodway has announced 4 Firefighters have been issued notice of possible layoffs next month. Here’s the press release sent out by Fire District 1…

FOUR FIREFIGHTERS FACE POTENTIAL LAYOFFS AT FIRE DISTRICT 1

 Four firefighters at Snohomish County Fire District 1 have been given notices that they could be laid off as early as Feb. 15.

“We hope to come up with a solution before that date to allow these firefighters to stay on the job. They are valued employees who have served our citizens well,” said Fire Chief Ed Widdis. “Unfortunately, there aren’t any easy answers when we are facing a drop in property tax revenue of more than 12 percent this year with more of the same expected in 2013.”

Fire District 1 employs 190 firefighters and staffs 12 fire stations around the clock to serve more than 225,000 residents in unincorporated south Snohomish County, Brier, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace and Woodway.

Property taxes are the primary source of funding for district operations. As home values have declined at an unprecedented rate over the past two years, so have property tax revenues in Fire District 1.

The district has already implemented major cutbacks. Nine administrative positions were eliminated in November through a combination of retirements and layoffs. An across-the-board reduction of nearly 12 percent in general fund program expenditures was also part of the $35.8 million budget for 2012 adopted by the Board of Commissioners in December.

Up until now, Fire District 1 had been able to avoid cutbacks in firefighting staff. In addition to the four layoffs under consideration, three vacant firefighter positions are slated to be eliminated.

Widdis said between now and Feb. 15 he will continue to explore other ways to reduce costs without having to implement the layoffs.

“Our top priority is to maintain the fire and emergency medical response the public has come to expect,” Widdis said. “We’re hoping we can find a way to keep these four firefighters on the job and serving our citizens.”

Fire District 1 serves nearly a quarter million people in Snohomish County

Fire District 1, which serves the unincorporated area south of Everett and down to the King-Snohomish County line, has announced a series of staffing cuts to offset a $3 million dollar funding gap in their 2012 budget. Nine administrative positions have been eliminated through a combination of retirements and layoffs that take effect this month, according to Fire Chief Ed Widdis.

“These changes aren’t easy, but were necessary to address the budget challenges facing the fire district during these tough economic times. Our top priority is to maintain the fire and emergency medical response the public has come to expect, so we are looking for places to cut that do not affect station operations,” he said.

Five administrative positions were eliminated in layoffs that took effect Wednesday: one deputy chief, one administrative assistant, one fire and life safety education specialist, one receptionist and one maintenance support employee. Four other positions will be eliminated Nov.16 when retirements take effect for two deputy chiefs and two administrative assistants.

“We’re sad to be losing these employees who have served our citizens well. Over the next few months, we will be reorganizing our administrative staff to fill the responsibilities of those who have retired or were laid off,” Widdis said. “We’re confident that with a streamlined administration and smarter deployment of existing personnel, our firefighters will be able to continue to serve the public well.”

Widdis said these administrative staffing changes will not impact emergency services or fire station staffing. “When you call 9-1-1, you can expect to receive the same service you do today from our dedicated firefighters,” he said.

In addition to covering the unincorporated area south of Everett, Fire District 1 is the largest provider of fire and emergency medical service in Snohomish County. Fire District 1 operates 12 stations to serve more than 227,000 residents in unincorporated communities as well as the cities of Brier, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace and Woodway.