HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-07-11 - Large Brush Fire - 15322 Macadam Road SouthCity Of Tukwila Jim Haggerton, Mayor
Fire Department Chris Flores, Interim Fire Chief
An Accredited Agency
Press Contact: Martv Grisham
Description of Incident
Phone Number: 206 971 -8740
Distribution:
Local Media
Mayor's Office
City Administrator
City Clerk's Office
Council Analyst
PD Administration
PD Supervisors
PD Records
Just after 9pm on July 11, the Tukwila Fire Department was dispatched to a brush fire in
the 15300 Block of MacAdam Road South in Tukwila. Initial reports to 911 were of a
small fire, approximately 3 feet by 12 feet. Four minutes after the initial reports,
additional calls into the 911 center were reporting the fire had grown dramatically and
was spreading rapidly. It had gone up the hillside from MacAdam, consuming grass,
trees and shrubbery. It even reached a deck on the second floor and was scorching the
side of the building! Fire was being reported as 30+ feet in the air and was now on both
sides of MacAdam Road!
First arriving units reported they were on scene with a large brush fire that was
threatening apartment buildings at the top of the hill. That officer called for a second
alarm immediately upon arrival.
All Tukwila crews responded, and were assisted by several South King County Fire
Agencies. Approximately eight fire engines, two ladder trucks, two aid cars, three
Battalion Chief, Investigators, support staff and a medic unit responded... totaling over
50 firefighters. Police responded and had to shut down MacAdam Road South to
protect the firefighters and the hoses laid out in the street.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, although there is a high suspicion
fireworks were involved. Investigators were told that fireworks were heard in the area
just before the fire started. Tukwila Police are assisting our investigators to follow up on
leads they received at the scene.
No injuries were reported.
Several apartments were evacuated. Flames were seen thirty feet in the air, and a
second story balcony of one apartment actually caught fire. One apartment suffered
minor damage inside from radiant heat of the fire.
Approximately 20 of the many citizens that were evacuated from the threatened
apartments were taken by Metro Bus to the Tukwila Community Center. The
AMERICAN RED CROSS was there, assisted by city employees from our Parks and
Recreation Department. They provided comfort to these individuals until official word
from on -scene officials determined if they could re- occupy their apartments. All but four
6200 Southcenter Blvd. Tukwila, WA 98188 • Phone (206)433 -1808 • Records Fax (206)244 -6181
citizens were allowed back into their apartment. Red Cross took care of those four with
alternate housing, food and clothing.
It was the quick and professional actions of the "first in" crews that kept this fire from
spreading to the apartment buildings! Our crews all have a clear knowledge of the
extreme fire conditions our entire state is in right now, including our city and the greater
Seattle region. They know the speed by which a small brush fire can grow out of
control. Quick decisions and strategic use of large hoses kept this fire from doing more
damage than it did.
Also an important note... although we are still investigating the cause of this fire, we
have good evidence that fireworks were possibly involved. As temperatures finally
dropped below 80 degree's yesterday, there may be a misconception that the fire
danger dropped also... THAT IS WRONG THINKING! We want to remind everyone
that we still have extreme fire conditions. This fire proved that! We are asking that all
fireworks to be put away for the season! Firefighters were put in very hazardous
conditions fighting this fire! We also know many citizens were put in danger, and
certainly their lives were threatened! As we mentioned, over fifty firefighters were at this
fire, which means they were unavailable to respond to other calls for service that could
have happened while at this preventable fire.
We want to thank our Mutual Aid departments that assisted us, as well as the American
Red Cross, who graciously took care of our citizens who were in need.
If this news release reached you in error, please contact our office at
206 - 575 -4404 so that we may correct the information in our
database.
6200 Southcenter Blvd. Tukwila, WA 98188 • Phone (206)433 -1808 • Records Fax (206)244 -6181