Laserfiche WebLink
City of Tukwila My WebLink |HelpSearch Tips |About |Sign Out
.0401,17 <br />City of Tukwila <br />INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM <br />Allan Ekberg, Mayor <br />TO: Finance Committee <br />FROM: Chief Jay Wittwer & Assistant Fire Chief Chris Flores, Fire Department <br />BY: Jeremy Brecher-Haimson & Lillian Ferraz, Management Analyst Interns <br />CC: Mayor Ekberg <br />DATE: August 21, 2019 <br />SUBJECT: Tukwila Fire Special Operations <br />ISSUE <br />Provide historical overview of the special operations that the Tukwila Fire Department has provided in the past <br />and the transition towards King County Fire Zone 3 (South King County) regionalization. Document all special <br />operations (Ops) and current service levels throughout Zone 3. <br />TUKWILA SPECIAL OPS HISTORY <br />In 1985-86, Tukwila Fire Department began to train its firefighters in special operations. As teams, they were <br />among the first in Washington State to specialize in hazardous materials and rescue. Their model of specializing <br />in rescue efforts became a model for others, and FEMA became a frequent contractor for their services moving <br />forward. Tukwila, working under FEMA's Washington Task Force 1 responded to calls such as: <br />• North Ridge Earthquake <br />• Oklahoma City Bombing <br />• Multiple Hurricanes <br />• World Trade Center Emergency <br />More local to the area, Tukwila and Zone 3 were called in to help in special situations such as the OSO (530) <br />Mudslide which included assisting engineers with the re-routing of the Stillaguamish river. <br />BACKGROUND OF ZONE 3 REGIONALIZATION <br />In 2004-2005 the Zone 3 Operations Chiefs formalized the Zone 3 Technical Rescue Response model. This model <br />brought together disparate response in the zone and organized and coordinated responding agencies. At the <br />time there were 8 separate providing agencies. Most Zone 3 Technical Rescue Operations involve rescues in <br />difficult terrain or on bodies of water. <br />The first of these responses was to a helicopter crash that occurred during a training flight out of BIM. All <br />agencies came together to recover the crew of the helicopter at the higher elevations of Mt. Peak near <br />Enumclaw. The incident was lengthy, as well as technically and logistically demanding. Zone 3 assisted the <br />United States Army with the investigative phase as well. Tukwila Fire played a significant role in this operation. <br />37 <br />