Fire Blotter, June 20

Total Calls this period: 63

EMS/Rescue: 46

Fire/Hazardous Conditions: 2

Service/Good Intent/False: 15

On June 10, paramedics were called to a 92-year-old female with respiratory distress. The patient’s daughter said her mother developed difficulty breathing the previous day, becoming worse through the night and the following morning was struggling to breathe. Medics found the woman in respiratory distress. Medics treated and transported her to the hospital.

On June 11, firefighters responded to a complaint of smoke from burning garbage. Engine 58 arrived to find a home on private property with no smoke or obvious burning. When they made contact with the home owner, they were directed to a "now out" pile of ashes. There was no evidence of illegal materials in the pile  However, the home owner had not called for a burn permit. Firefighters educated the occupant in regards to burning regulations. (A burn permit is required for all outdoor burning and can be obtained at no cost by calling 851-3111.)

On June 12, firefighters were dispatched to a call for heavy smoke off of Stinson. While checking the area firefighters spotted smoke coming from a large fire in a fire pit in a backyard and could smell trash burning. The crew then made contact with the homeowner and explained to him that he was in a “No Burn Zone”. He admitted to burning a cardboard box and Styrofoam from a new TV. Crews explained that it is illegal to burn trash, even outside the "No Burn Zone". He was very unhappy with not being allowed to have the fire and burn his trash but willingly extinguished the fire with a garden hose.  Crews stood by to make sure that the fire was fully extinguished.

On June 13, paramedics were dispatched to a auto versus bicycle. A 17-year-old male was riding his bicycle down Soundview Drive when a small pick-up truck turned left in front of the bicyclist. The driver stated that he did not see the patient until he was lying on the street. Bystanders said the boy fell straight down landing on the street and striking his head. He was wearing a helmet that appeared undamaged. Bystanders said that he was unconscious. When medics arrived they found him lying on the street struggling to get up and away from aid givers. He had a 2-inch bump on the head and minor lacerations to his lips and face. Medics were concerned that he may have a closed head wound and took special precautions to protect his head, neck and spine and transported him to a trauma team at a nearby hospital.

On June 14, firefighters were dispatched to an appliance fire. The homeowner stated that there was a “popping" sound and smoke from the back of the refrigerator. The crew arrived to find the homeowner outside waiting for the fire department. She told firefighters that she had tripped the main electrical breaker to the house. Upon entering the home the crew noted the odor of something electrical burning. They moved the refrigerator away from the wall. They checked the wall with the thermal imager camera that detects heat and found none. Upon inspection of the refrigerator, they found that the motor and compressor had overheated. Firefighters unplugged the unit and restored power to the residence, and instructed the homeowner to follow up with a repair man.

On June 16, paramedics were called to a male in his 40s in full cardiac arrest. According to a bystander, the man was seated in the passenger side of a moving truck in front of a local business. As the bystander walked passed the store he noticed that the man seemed to be in some type of distress. They alerted the store staff, who called 911. Two staff members from the business then went to the vehicle, opened the door and pulled him from the seat. At that point he was no longer breathing and did not appear to have a pulse. They immediately began CPR and continued until the fire department arrived. When the crew arrived, they continued lifesaving procedures with CPR and drug therapy. Upon arrival at the hospital the patient once again had a pulse and was trying to sit up. (The fire department offers free uncertified CPR classes to groups of six or more. For more information on all the CPR classes we offer, check out our website www.piercefire.org/ click on Gig Harbor.)