Fire, rescue blotter
The Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to the following calls between Nov. 3 and Nov. 9
NOV. 3
House Fire: 11:09 a.m., (Federal Way). VRFA Firefighters were dispatched via automatic aid to the 35000 block of 37th Avenue South to support South King Fire and Rescue at a residential fire. VRFA Aid 31 personnel provided primary search and rescue functions in the interior of the home and found four pets (two cats and two dogs) that had died in the fire.
NOV. 4
Motor Home Fire: 1:08 a.m., (Auburn). VRFA personnel responding to a fire on the 1100 block of 37th Street Southeast found a 20-foot motor home fully engulfed in flames and quickly put it out. Two people who had been sleeping in the motor home when the fire started escaped unharmed. Fire investigators determined that an unattended burning candle caused the fire. The VRFA called in the Red Cross to help with transitional housing because the motor home was the occupant’s primary residence.
NOV. 5
Natural Gas Leak: 3:27 p.m., (Auburn). VRFA crews responded to a business on West Main Street for a natural gas leak. The firefighters discovered that a vehicle had rolled off the bed of a tow truck and struck a natural gas meter supplying a large commercial building. Firefighters got everyone out of the building and restricted access to the area around the leak. Firefighters were then able to enter the hazardous area using a hose line for protection and turn off the gas. Puget Sound Energy and VRFA personnel then used natural gas detection equipment to check nearby businesses for dangerous levels of gas, but found no hazards. The VRFA anticipated a speedy repair for the damaged meter.
NOV. 7
Occupied car in the river: 8:39 a.m., (Auburn). VRFA crews were dispatched to Green River Road, just north of the Auburn Golf Course, for a vehicle in the Green River. Initial 911 calls reported that two victims may be trapped in the vehicle. The driver had escaped the vehicle and reported to the initial arriving first responders that two children were still in the vehicle when it disappeared below the surface of the river. The vehicle was not visible from the shore in the murky and fast flowing water. SCUBA divers from the VRFA and Renton Fire quickly assessed the scene and determined an area of the river where the vehicle was likely to be located. Boats from the VRFA and Kent Fire were used to probe the river in an attempt to locate the vehicle while the SCUBA operation was being set up. Additional fire department rescue technicians were requested to assist with the complex rescue operations. The probe search located the vehicle and SCUBA qualified personnel made numerous attempts to access the submerged vehicle. Due to the strong river current and a large volume of floating river debris dive operations were suspended. A safety line and buoy were secured to the suspect vehicle to hold it in place until river conditions improve and safe underwater operations can resume. The scene was turned over to the King County Sheriffs office as the authority having jurisdiction.
NOV. 9
Live hand jgrenade: 11:46 p.m., (Auburn). Battalion 31 was advised of a request by a Bomb Disposal Unit to provide a fire engine for safety at the scene where a live hand grenade was found. Engine 32 was dispatched to a wrecking yard on A St SE and provided support to the bomb technicians as their medical and safety standby teams. The hand grenade was successfully neutralized without injury.
Explosion: (Pacific) On Sunday, November 9th, at approximately 9:45 p.m., VRFA units were dispatched to an explosion with smoke and flames seen outside a residence. Pacific police and VRFA Engine 38 arrived first and found the remnants from an illegal firework that had been placed in the exhaust pipe of the homeowner’s automobile. VRFA and Pacific Police personnel ensured the area was safe and the investigation was conducted by the Pacific police.
