Gig Harbor Fire Blotter: Bird's Nest Sparks Grass Fire

Total calls during this period: 93
EMS: 76  
Fire/Service: 9            
Other: 8

On May 10, a contractor was digging a post hole for a fence when he hit a residential feeder line. Crews arrived and found a small gas line actively leaking with minimal hazard. Traffic was blocked in both directions. Puget Sound Energy arrived and crimped the gas line off.

On May 10, a large Osprey nest that was built around the field lights at a little league field caught fire, dropping embers to the ground resulting in a small grass fire. Pen Light arrived and shut off power to the pole while crews extinguished the fire using their deck gun. The field manager was advised to keep the lights off until an electrician could assess the damage.

On May 12, a local resident was riding his skateboard when he crashed and struck the right side of his head on the concrete. His mother found him the next day lying on the floor unable to move due to left side paralysis. Crews arrived and determined he did not lose consciousness, but he vomited once the night before. He was unable to move his extremities on the left side and suffered a few abrasions. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

On May 12, a woman was doing laundry when she noticed a strange glow in the dryer. After calling 911, her husband unplugged the now free-burning dryer and dragged it into the garage and onto the open driveway, preventing extension of the fire to the home itself. Crews arrived and found the husband attempting to put out the fire with a garden hose. The fire was eventually extinguished with a dry chemical and both home owners were evaluated for smoke inhalation. Neither needed to be transported, and the debris was removed from their driveway.

On May 13, crews responded to a call of confusion and difficulty speaking. The wife stated that her husband went to bed acting normal, but when he woke up in the morning, he was acting confused, speaking garbled sentences and poured coffee onto the counter. When crews arrived, the patient was standing at the top of the staircase visibly confused. He was transported to a local hospital for further treatment.

On May 14, crews responded to a complaint of difficulty swallowing. The patient stated that she was unable to swallow and then began having a hard time breathing but felt better after vomiting. She was transferred to a local hospital for further treatment.

On May 15, a man was driving a truck and trailer on State Route 16 when his trailer began to sway causing him to lose control of his truck and roll in the soft shoulder. The driver was wearing his seat belt at the time and was not hurt. No transport was necessary. 

On May 16, crews arrived to the scene on Burnham Drive NW to find a large amount of fuel coming from an approximately 55-gallon plastic drum. The spill was approaching the roadway. Hazmat was called to the scene with more absorbent supplies. Absorbent pads were used to begin clean-up and stop the spread of fuel. Crews began investigating the source and found a garden hose siphoning fuel from another container 150ft away to the overflowing drum. Hose was removed and crews sealed the drum with a bung. One lane of Burnham was closed; Department of Ecology and Gig Harbor Public Works arrived to take over and released the crews.

On May 16, medics responded to two seizure calls. The first incident was on Olympic Drive. The patient was walking from a bus stop toward a store when he tripped and fell and began seizing. The man had been drinking and was unable to answer many questions. He was transported for further evaluation.

The second seizure was in a parking lot on Pt. Fosdick Drive NW where a woman was witnessed “walking funny.” She then fell down and began seizing for roughly three minutes. Afterward she complained of neck and back pain. She was transferred to a local hospital for further treatment.