Fire Blotter: Brush Fires, Heat Exhaustion and More

Total calls during this period: 136         

EMS: 104                           

Fire/Service: 17                                                

Other: 15

On Aug. 10, a 62-year-old woman felt dizzy with shortness of breath while exercising in a water aerobics class. She was transported to a local hospital after evaluation at the pool.

On Aug. 11, a landscaper noticed a smoldering beauty bark on Skansie Avenue. The fire was about 3-by-3 in diameter. The reporting party put buckets of water on the fire, and it was smoldering with steam and smoke when crews arrived. Additional water was added to thoroughly extinguish the fire; cause unknown but suspected from a cigarette.

On Aug. 12, a large amount of water shooting 3-feet into the air was reported from a passerby at Gig Harbor High School. When crews arrived, the malfunction was due to a broken sprinkler head and was not a hazard. The facility manager was contacted to fix the problem.

On Aug. 13, a 50-by-3-foot hedge at a home on 79th Avenue caught on fire. The cause of the fire is undetermined and is under investigation by Pierce County Fire Marshal. It took about 300 gallons of water and some foam to fully extinguish.

On Aug. 15, firefighters responded to a 20-by-20 brush fire in the area of 54th Avenue NW and Hunt Street. Crews used about 1,000 gallons of water to put out the fire. Cause is unknown.

On Aug. 17, an 8-year-old boy was treated for heat exhaustion and dehydration after playing football all day in the 90-degree heat. Cool compresses and ice water relieved his symptoms. His parents drove home.

On Aug. 18, an 18-year-old man was stung by a bee three times in the legs and requested evaluation. He refused transport as no other symptoms or severe reaction was noted at the time.