2020 Press Releases
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December 8, 2020
Team effort beats odds to rescue man from Puget Sound
(KINGSTON, Wash.) — A 24 year-old was rescued successfully despite long odds after spending as long as 30 minutes in Puget Sound’s frigid waters when he fell overboard from a sailboat near here last evening — thanks to the response of other boaters, including a Washington State Ferry crew. The Vancouver, Washington man was not wearing a life-jacket and rescuers say he is lucky to have escaped more dire consequences.
At 3:25 p.m. Monday, North Kitsap Fire & Rescue (NKF&R) crews were called to a location off of Apple Tree Point, about a mile northeast of the Kingston Ferry Terminal and almost mid-channel, where a boat was disabled with one of its occupants in the water, according to a radio report to the U.S. Coast Guard. Firefighters sped to the Port of Kingston Marina to get NKF&R’s fire-rescue boat underway, and Marine 81 was on its way to assist within 8 minutes of dispatch.
Peter Horsman, the operator of the 23-foot motor vessel Moondance, was on his way from his home port at Seattle’s Queen City Yacht Club to Edmonds when he heard the distress call, and set a course toward the sailboat’s position. Horsman established a search pattern in an effort to find the man. Darkness began to fall and sea conditions worsened; he later told officials that he was ready to give up after 20 – 30 minutes of searching when he spotted the man in the water. Horsman brought him aboard and started to help him get warm. The small boat from the ferry Walla Walla, which had diverted from the Edmonds-Kingston route to assist, came alongside and offered to take the man to the ferry where medical equipment was available. The man was passed to that crew and, after the small boat returned, the ferry headed into the Kingston Ferry Terminal. An off-duty firefighter/paramedic from Clallam County Fire District #3 (Sequim) also helped, having answered the ferry crew’s call when they asked for medical personnel. An NKF&R paramedic unit provided care to the man when the boat arrived in Kingston. He ultimately declined ambulance transport, opting instead to meet his brother in Edmonds where the boat was being towed. Firefighters got the man dry clothes and a meal while making sure he had a warm place to wait for the ferry across.
Officials are calling the man lucky, noting that it’s remarkable to make a successful rescue under these conditions. The chilly waters can hamper the abilities of even the strongest swimmers in as little as 15 minutes and, absent a life jacket, it can be difficult to remain afloat and visible. Puget Sound’s vast area, the approach of nightfall and rough waters further decreased the chances for a good outcome.
The pair had been taking the 22-foot sailboat from Blaine to Edmonds and were headed for a stop in Kingston when the mishap occurred. The brother who remained aboard the boat was unable to make a rescue due in part to the afternoon’s windy conditions but his radio report spurred firefighters’ response as well as that of other boats in the area including the Moondance. As the incident illustrates, it takes a team effort to make a difference — especially when circumstances make the odds long.
Firefighters sometimes refer to their fire engines as big toolboxes on wheels. Several of those tools were put into action to free a man from beneath a rolled tractor near Kingston today. Clockwise from left is the Hi-Lift Rescue Jack, step chocks, ratchet straps and chain.
November 21, 2020
Firefighters free man trapped under rolled tractor
(KINGSTON, Wash.) — A Kingston man appears to have escaped serious injury after becoming entrapped under a 2,500-pound tractor when it rolled over onto him near here today. Firefighters used a variety of rescue tools to rapidly free the man, and believe that he may have been protected by the thick vegetation that filled the roadside ditch where the man and the tractor landed.
An NKF&R lieutenant works to position a jack in preparation for lifting a rolled tractor off its operator near Kingston today.
North Kitsap Fire & Rescue (NKF&R) crews were called to Leyman Lane at 11:46 a.m. on Saturday after the man used his cell phone to call 9-1-1. The first unit arrived on scene within four minutes and crews had freed the man just ten minutes after that. The same conditions that cushioned the man complicated the rescue; working in the vegetation-filled ditch six feet below the road surface, firefighters used ratchet
straps secured to the fire engine to stabilize the tractor and gradually raised it off the man using a specialized jack, slipping step chocks underneath as space was created.
Once freed, the man declined medical treatment or transport. He told crews that he’s been operating the tractor along the side of the roadway when the shoulder gave way, causing the mishap.
Cracks in a pellet stove’s chimney pipe likely led to an attic fire in Hansville.
November 9, 2020
Damage limited in Hansville attic fire
(HANSVILLE, Wash.) — Early detection and a fast fire department response kept a chimney-sparked attic fire from causing much more serious damage here this morning.
North Kitsap Fire & Rescue (NKF&R) crews were initially dispatched to a possible chimney fire at a home on Twin Spits Road at 7:50 a.m. Monday. Based on additional information provided as crews sped to the scene, the incident was upgraded to a structure fire and more units from Poulsbo Fire Department as well as from NKF&R were called to the scene. The first crew arrived in just over 5 minutes. Light smoke was coming from the eaves and the home was evacuated. Twin Spits Road was blocked by fire engines as well as by hose lines as crews tied into a nearby hydrant. Firefighters were able to make access to the attic and snuff the incipient fire quickly, using less than five gallons of water. Other crews still en route to the scene were returned to their stations.
Twin Spits Road was closed for about an hour while firefighters worked to snuff an attic fire there.
It appeared that several cracks in a pellet stove’s chimney pipe had allowed superheated air to reduce the ignition temperature of wooden structural members nearby in the attic. These items were just starting to burn when the problem was detected; the ensuing fire’s damage was likely limited because the occupants were home, noticed smoke coming from the house’s eaves and got firefighters on their way with an early 9-1-1 call.
Officials recommend that all chimneys be swept and inspected annually by certified professionals who have the equipment to detect dangerous defects before a problem arises.
There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians, and Twin Spits Road reopened to traffic after about an hour.
November 9, 2020
After working to extinguish a brush fire in a Little Boston ravine for over two hours on Sunday evening, an NKF&R firefighter rolls one of the multiple sections of hose that had to be deployed to reach and snuff the blaze.
Brush fire scorches an acre near Kingston
(KINGSTON, Wash.) — About an acre of vegetation was scorched but no structures were damaged in a brush fire on the Port Gamble S’Klallam Reservation on Sunday evening. Fire officials say the blaze likely resulted from an outdoor burn pile near an adjacent home.
North Kitsap Fire & Rescue (NKF&R) crews were called to a Boston Lane address at 4:38 p.m. after a neighbor called to report a possible fire in the woods. The first units arrived to find flames of 3 – 4 feet and spreading at a moderate pace in a ravine. High winds were fanning the fire and carrying embers. While one crew pulled 500 feet of hose into the gully to begin extinguishing the fire from its north side, another crew tied into the nearest hydrant about 400 feet away. Others pulled 500 feet of hose to attack the blaze from its south side. Two hours and an estimated 15,000 gallons later, the fire was extinguished.
The homeowner told fire officials that he’d been burning a stump and other natural vegetation earlier in the week, and fully extinguished the fire on Thursday. Since that time, he’d smelled smoke in the area and had searched for its source multiple times without ever finding flames or embers. Though firefighters were unable to pinpoint the fire’s cause but evidence at the scene and the homeowner’s statements suggest that it may have been sparked when fire spread underground into the ravine through the root system of a stump that was part of last week’s burn pile.
The fire came within about 100 feet of structures. Officials note that the outcome could have been much worse had the blaze broken out before this fall’s rains.
Despite darkness and uneven terrain, there were no injuries to firefighters or civilians.
September 30, 2020
We have an update to the September 27 story about the heat lamp fire; NKF&R officials learned today that the chicks did survive the fire. Good news!
September 27, 2020
Another heat-lamp fire sparks warning from fire officials
No injuries to firefighters or civilians, but 25 baby chicks perish
(Between KINGSTON and SUQUAMISH, Wash.) — Damage from the latest in a string of heat-lamp-related fires in Kitsap County was minimal because it was discovered and squelched quickly, but similar incidents have been far more destructive. Officials urge care with these and all heat-generating appliances.
North Kitsap Fire & Rescue (NKF&R) and others were dispatched to the possible house fire on Indianola Road near its intersection with Miller Bay Road just after 10 p.m. on Thursday after a family member who happened to be outside noticed flames and alerted others. They evacuated, called 9-1-1 and successfully knocked down the fire using water and fire extinguishers. Fire crews arrived to find the fire mostly out; they finished snuffing hot spots and ventilated the home. Damage was limited to a small portion of the home’s exterior with light smoke affecting the interior.
The family told crews that the heat lamp they’d been using to keep 25 chicks warm appeared to have fallen into and ignited the chicks’ nesting material. NKF&R crews have responded to at least four similar events in recent years (see the district’s press releases dated 6/24/16, 6/16/18, 9/9/18 and 2/18/20) while other county fire districts have responded to several more in the same time period (see this 2019 story in the Kitsap Sun).
Officials suggest keeping chicks warm with safer alternatives such as hot water bottles. If heat lamps are used, the fire risk can be reduced by following the manufacturer’s directions, avoiding the use of extension cords/plugging the appliance directly into a fixed outlet, ensuring the appliance is secure to prevent tipping or falling and well clear of combustible materials.
September 25, 2020
Kitsap County outdoor burn bans lifted
Return of wet fall weather eases fire danger
(PORT ORCHARD, Wash.) –The Kitsap County Fire Marshal announced this morning that, effective immediately and due to the return to fall weather patterns, the summer’s outdoor burn bans have been lifted.
As of Friday, September 25, 2020 all outdoor burning may resume subject to the normal rules and regulations. Land clearing burning is still prohibited throughout the county and burning permits are required for general outdoor burning. Permits are available free of charge through local fire districts’ websites. Recreational burning (fires of less than 3’x3’x2′ in a designated pit and containing only seasoned firewood or charcoal) may be conducted without permits.
A Stage 1 Outdoor Burn Ban was implemented on July 30 due to rising fire danger and the risk posed by outdoor burning. Between 80 – 90% of all wildfires are human-caused and escaped outdoor fires are the leading source. The ban was elevated to Stage 2 on September 8 due to worsening conditions that included stretched firefighting resources as wind-driven fires broke out across the state. “The return of fall rains has decreased fire danger enough to allow outdoor burning again,” says Kitsap County Fire Marshal David Lynam. He adds his appreciation for everyone’s patience as officials waited for moisture levels to be restored to the region’s parched landscape. Until earlier this week, less than an inch of rain had fallen since the end of June. “I know there has been rain, but it has taken some time for the moisture to soak in.”
Despite the improvement in fire danger, Lynam urges the public to exercise caution when burning and to consider the impact of smoke on neighbors. Find links to local fire districts and the outdoor burning rules on the fire marshal’s web page.
September 9, 2020
NKF&R Hosts Virtual 9/11 Remembrance
Firefighters overcome obstacles to continue 18-year tradition
(KINGSTON, Wash.) — Their usual plans nixed by the pandemic, North Kitsap Fire & Rescue (NKF&R) firefighters and staff have found a way to continue their long-standing practice of marking the solemn anniversary by gathering community for a good cause in the names of those lost in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, in-person attendance is limited to NKF&R personnel and this year’s event won’t include the traditional breakfast. Instead, the community is invited to gather virtually for a brief ceremony via Facebook LIVE beginning at 7 a.m. Assistant Chief Rick LaGrandeur will offer short remarks before the on-duty crew raises and, then, lowers the station flag to half-staff. Viewers will be invited to join firefighters in a moment of silence for the September 11 victims. This year, firefighters have chosen to honor Boys & Girls Club of North Kitsap (BGCNK) for their invaluable service to the community’s families during the pandemic. LaGrandeur will welcome BGCNK Director Chelsea Tate and present her with a donation from NKF&R’s firefighters, staff, volunteers and commissioners. The public will be invited to support the club, too.
In 2003, NKF&R began hosting the public for breakfast every September 11. Using a fund supported primarily by gifts from members, firefighters have provided free breakfast to the community while accepting donations for the charity chosen as that year’s beneficiary. Past charities have included the American Red Cross, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Kitsap Humane Society, Kitsap Mental Health Services, Kingston High School ASB, Kingston Cooperative Preschool, Village Green Foundation, Coffee Oasis, North Kitsap Schools Foundation, YWCA Alive Shelter, and Tuesday’s Children/Snowball Express.
To join in the event, go to www.facebook.com/nkfire. To join firefighters in supporting the local club, send a donation to the club at 26159 Dulay Rd NE in Kingston, WA 98346. Be sure to note “North Kitsap” on the check’s memo line.
September 8, 2020
Fire Danger on the Rise; Burn Ban Expanded to Stage II
(KITSAP COUNTY, Wash.) — Due to rising fire danger and stretched resources, the Kitsap County Fire Marshal is expanding the current burn ban to prohibit all outdoor fires, effective immediately and until further notice.
The move is prompted by several factors. Hot and dry weather has made conditions ripe for ignition and fast fire spread, and forecasts predict more of the same. Multiple local brush fires broke out over the weekend, underscoring the danger. Large fires in progress across the state have depleted all but local firefighting resources. “Escaped outdoor fires are a leading cause of wildland fires,” notes Kitsap County Fire Marshal David Lynam. “Given these circumstances, the best way to prevent a big incident in our county right now is by preventing it from starting in the first place.”
Under a Stage II Fire Danger Burn Ban, no open burning is allowed. All outdoor burning permits remain suspended, recreational fires are prohibited, and only propane or natural gas-fueled cooking fires are allowed.
While outdoor fires are to blame for many dangerous brush fires, there are other causes as well and Lynam says, “The situation is serious, and we really need everyone’s help limiting all ignition sources.” Dispose of smoking materials properly. Secure trailer chains to prevent sparks. Practice fire-safe target shooting (where target shooting is allowed). Defer mowing until conditions improve.
To check on the current status of the outdoor burn ban, contact the Kitsap County Fire Marshal’s Office at (360)337-5777 or your local fire district.
April 28, 2020
DAMAGED BATTERY SPARKS GARAGE FIRE
(SUQUAMISH, Wash.) — When a damaged battery on a charger apparently sparked a fire here Sunday afternoon, a detached garage and most of its contents were saved thanks to a working smoke alarm, alert neighbors and firefighters’ fast response.
North Kitsap Fire & Rescue (NKF&R), Poulsbo Fire Department and Bainbridge Island Fire Department crews were dispatched to a possible house fire at an Angeline Avenue address just after 3 p.m. The first unit, from NKF&R’s Suquamish station, was on scene in just over four minutes. They found light smoke coming from the single-car garage and a smoke alarm sounding. Making entry through the structure’s mandoor, they were able to quickly extinguish the growing fire — but not before the blaze had destroyed most of the shelving and materials in the small garage’s southeast corner. Having snuffed the flames, crews returned most of the units to their stations while several other firefighters remained on scene to ensure the fire was completely out.
The homeowner told crews that the battery had fallen into Puget Sound and, after retrieving it, he attempted to restore its charge. He’d been inside his adjacent home when neighbors, having heard an activated alarm in the garage, knocked on his door to inform him of the problem. The homeowner called 911 to get fire crews on their way.
There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians.
April 21, 2020
SHED SINGED, HOUSE SAVED IN BOILER STACK FIRE
An early 911 call, residents’ fire extinguishers and firefighters’ response helped keep this outbuilding fire from spreading to involve another outbuilding and two adjacent homes.
(KINGSTON, Wash.) — A small outbuilding was seriously damaged when a boiler’s compromised smokestack allowed hot gases to ignite the structure but the occupants’ quick actions and the fire department response kept the blaze from spreading to adjacent buildings.
North Kitsap Fire & Rescue (NKF&R) and Poulsbo Fire Department (PFD) crews were called to a home off of Kingston View Court, about 2 miles NNW of Kingston at 4:11 p.m. on Monday after a resident at the home found smoke and flames coming from the 10′ x 12′ shed and called 911 to report the blaze. Family members used five fire extinguishers and a garden hose to hold the flames in check while firefighters made their way to the scene. The first crew arrived in just over 8 minutes, and reported fire coming from the small building. Firefighters were able to quickly snuff the flames and, assured that the fire wasn’t spreading to other nearby structures, returned the units not yet on scene to their stations.
This hole in a boiler’s exhaust stack is thought to have allowed heat to escape and spark a fire in an outbuilding near Kingston on Monday afternoon.
An investigator from the Kitsap County Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the incident. Based on witness statements and evidence at the scene, the investigator believes that the fire was accidental and sparked by a flaw in a boiler’s exhaust stack. Housed inside the wooden shed and used to heat water that supplies heat to the adjacent large residence, the thermostat-controlled boiler had been idle for a period of time before working since starting up again that morning. The investigator found a hole in the pipe that likely allowed heat to escape, eventually lowering the ignition temperature of surrounding materials in a process called pyrolysis.
Officials recommend that all chimneys and stacks be cleaned and examined by certified chimney sweeps at least once a year. Such inspections are key to preventing these types of fires.
The family is insured. Although a small amount of smoke made its way into the main home through the conduit that carried the pipes of heated water in from the boiler, there was no significant damage to the residences and the family was not displaced.
There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians.
April 8, 2020
THREE RESCUED FROM GROUNDED VESSEL OFF OF KINGSTON
(KINGSTON, Wash.) — Firefighters rescued three adults from their foundering 65′ vessel off of President Point, about 4 miles south of here early this morning.
North Kitsap Fire & Rescue (NKF&R) and Poulsbo Fire Department (PFD) crews were dispatched at 5:17 a.m. Wednesday after the U.S. Coast Guard received a distress call from the vessel Kathleen, reporting that the boat was aground and taking on water. Upon receiving additional information indicating that the vessel’s occupants weren’t in immediate danger, officials reduced the size of the response and returned PFD crews to their stations. One NKF&R crew got underway from Port of Kingston in the district’s fire-rescue boat, Marine 81, while others headed to a land-based vantage point. A fishing vessel located the distressed boat first but, due to shallow waters in the area, was unable to provide direct assistance. For the same reasons, Marine 81 couldn’t get to the Kathleen so her crew deployed a life raft and climbed aboard. Marine 81’s crew got a line to the raft and pulled it in, bringing the Kathleen’s three occupants onto the fire-rescue boat for the trip back to Kingston.
The boat’s owner and operator told firefighters that he likely he fell asleep while underway from Gig Harbor and was awakened only when the bilge alarm sounded as the grounded and listing vessel began taking on water.
High tide in the area was at about 5:30 a.m.
Upon their departure, NKF&R crews noted no evidence of leaking or spilling fuel but, as a precaution, have turned the incident over to the U.S. Coast Guard and Washington State Department of Ecology.
For video, click here. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians.
April 3, 2020
North Kitsap Fire & Rescue Firefighter Harrison Hause moves through the narrow spaces of a 40′ sailboat where a blaze scorched the vessel’s interior on Friday evening at the Port of Kingston Marina.
FIRE DISPLACES COUPLE FROM LIVEABOARD SAILBOAT
Combustibles too close to heat source thought to be cause
(KINGSTON, Wash.) — A small fire, thought to have been started when a diesel heater sparked nearby combustibles, displaced a couple and their pets from their 40′ liveaboard sailboat at Port of Kingston Marina here this evening. While there were no injuries to firefighters or civilians, the family cat was hurt. A small dog apparently escaped without harm.
A fire in the cabin of a 40′ sailboat, left, drew North Kitsap Fire & Rescue firefighters and their fire boat, right, to the Port of Kingston Marina on Friday evening.
North Kitsap Fire & Rescue (NKF&R) and Poulsbo Fire Department crews were called to the moorage facility’s guest dock just before 5 p.m. Friday after a bystander called Kitsap 911 to report a possible marina fire. The first units arrived on scene in just over five minutes, and found only light smoke. The bystander met them to report that the boat owner had squelched the flames with a nearby garden hose before leaving to rush his injured cat to a vet. NKF&R’s fire-rescue boat, Marine 81, also responded to the incident. Upon determining that the fire was out, crews canceled units still en route from Poulsbo. Firefighters finished extinguishing remaining hot spots and removed as much smoke as possible from the cabin.
North Kitsap Fire & Rescue’s boat, Marine 81, is cross-staffed by firefighters assigned to the district’s South Kingston Road station. When a fire broke out aboard a vessel at Port of Kingston Marina early Friday evening, crews responded to the harbor and had the boat underway less than seven minutes after dispatch.
The boat owner later returned, telling officials that he’d lit the boat’s heater and went ashore to use the marina’s restrooms. When he returned, he found smoke and flames. It appeared that clothing was ignited by the hot appliance and spread to involve other nearby combustibles. The fire caused significant interior damage but the vessel’s hull was not affected.
Even in small spaces like boat cabins, firefighters recommend keeping combustibles well clear of heat sources.
The American Red Cross is assisting the couple who is thought to have been uninsured.
March 30, 2020
HELP YOUR FIRST RESPONDERS FIGHT COVID-19 THROUGH SELF-REPORTING IN COMMUNITY CONNECT
Bremerton Fire Department, Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue, North Kitsap Fire & Rescue, Poulsbo Fire Department and South Kitsap Fire & Rescue all participating in the program
(KITSAP COUNTY, Wash.) — We will always respond when you need us. With COVID-19 cases present in our community, there’s a new opportunity for you to help your first responders stay safe when responding to your home. Community Connect bridges the information gap before 9-1-1 is called, allowing you to share specific information about your household so that we may better serve you during an emergency.
Now, there’s a special section for COVID-19. By answering a few questions regarding the health of members in your household, our crews will know what precautions they need to take when responding while also gaining visibility into how this health crisis is affecting our community as a whole. This information remains private and is only accessible when responding specifically to your address.
To begin, just visit Community Connect and enter your address. The program will make sure you’re directed to the correct fire department that serves your location.
You may already be familiar with Community Connect if you have already completed your home’s profile or even if you’ve applied for a burn permit online. If so, the same login will give you access to fill out different sections such as pet information, functional needs in the household, where the gas and water shutoffs are located, and more. If not, everyone nationwide now has access to self-report their COVID-19 related information in addition to the Community Connect instances already up and running in some districts such as Kitsap County, many departments in Pierce County, Lacey, and Eastside.
Community Connect comes to you after more than a year of collaborative work between Kitsap County’s public safety agencies and First Due, a provider of cutting edge technology for our first responders and builders of Community Connect programs around the country.
So please, take a few minutes to visit Community Connect to #selfreport. Beating COVID-19 will take everyone’s help, and your first responders are already thankful for yours.
February 26, 2020
NKF&R firefighters willl demonstrate both medical and firefighting skills in a public event on March 4, 2020 from 2 – 3 p.m. at the district’s headquarters station.
NKF&R SEEKING CANDIDATES FOR WELL-RESPECTED FIREFIGHTER TRAINING PROGRAM
March 4 demonstration to showcase program that’s helped more than 180 alumni get hired into the industry
(KINGSTON, Wash.) – North Kitsap Fire & Rescue (NKF&R) is accepting applications for its highly-regarded and effective Volunteer-Intern Firefighter Training Program through March 27. To help inspire potential candidates, the district is hosting a demonstration of firefighting and emergency medical skills on Wednesday, March 4 from 2 – 3 p.m. at the district’s headquarters fire station (26642 Miller Bay Road NE).
The event, which is open to the public, will include the opportunity to observe on-duty crews conducting a typical firefighting training exercise. Next, firefighters will simulate the resuscitation of a cardiac arrest victim. Senior staff members will be on-hand to explain the activities during the drills and available afterward to answer questions.
Program participants receive training, education and certifications that would otherwise cost thousands of dollars. They also receive reimbursement for food and emergency responses while serving on shift. In exchange, they provide volunteer service to the community and gain real-life experience serving alongside the district’s veteran paid personnel. These valuable assets help participants gain an edge over others in the highly-competitive fire service job market — as demonstrated by the many program graduates working in the field.
Graduates of the program, which started in 1987, are working in all of Kitsap County’s fire agencies as well as at Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Everett, Kirkland, Redmond, Eastside Fire and Rescue, Lacey, Tukwila, West Pierce, South Snohomish, Snohomish County Fire District #7, South King, Puget Sound Fire Authority, Valley Regional Fire Authority, Port Ludlow, East Jefferson, Port Angeles, Pasco, Richland, Portland and beyond.
To apply to the program, candidates must include a valid CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test) card along with their application, due March 27. The test is available in the region through at least two independent testing companies: Public Safety Testing and National Testing Network. Candidates must also possess a valid driver’s license and a high school diploma or GED certificate. Applicants meeting the minimum requirements will participate in a written test of general knowledge on Saturday, April 4; those passing the written exam will be interviewed by a panel of veteran firefighters on Sunday, April 5.
For more information, see the district’s web site at www.nkfr.org or call (360)297-3619.
February 18, 2020
HEAT LAMP SPARKS FIRE, SMOKE ALARMS SAVE OCCUPANT
Baby chicks perish but closed doors and fast fire department response limits damage to home
(INDIANOLA, Wash.) — Working smoke alarms are being credited with saving a home’s occupant but several baby chicks died and the house’s interior sustained significant damage in a fire that appears to have started when a heat lamp’s clip failed, dropping the hot light into a box of combustibles here on Monday evening.
North Kitsap Fire & Rescue (NKF&R), Poulsbo Fire Department and Bainbridge Island Fire Department crews were dispatched to the residence on Loughrey Avenue at 9:42 p.m. on Monday after a woman inside called 911 to report being awakened by activated smoke alarms and finding flames in her home’s living room. She also told call receivers at Kitsap 9-1-1 that she might not be able to get out as the fire was between her and the home’s exits. The first personnel, coming from NKF&R’s headquarters station, were on scene in less than seven minutes; they found the woman safely outside.
Firefighters were able to contain the fire quickly. They say the flames were easily snuffed because the blaze’s spread was held in check by the door, closed behind the woman as she exited and depriving the flames of the airflow needed to grow.
An investigator from the Kitsap County Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the incident. Witness statements and evidence at the scene point to the home’s living room as the area of the fire’s origin and a heat lamp in use to keep baby chicks warm there as the likely ignition source. The investigator, Deputy Fire Marshal Ken Rice, said that the incident’s outcome would almost certainly have been tragic without working smoke alarms; according to the National Fire Protection Association, the chances of surviving a home fire are doubled when working smoke alarms are present. NKF&R firefighters will provide smoke alarms free of charge upon request. Call (360)297-3619 to schedule an installation. Firefighters also recommend making and practicing fire escape plans that include at least two different ways out of every room and one meeting place outside.
In 2018, a Kitsap County Sheriff’s deputy saved a Port Orchard family of seven from a fire that is thought to have been sparked by a heat lamp in use to keep chicks warm. That same year, NKF&R firefighters responded to at least two similar and significant fires caused by heat lamps. Because these types of fires have become increasingly common around the county, officials encourage chicken-keepers to use other means (hot water bottles, bringing the brood box into a warmer space, etc) to keep the young birds warm. If heat lamps must be used, officials recommend carefully following the manufacturer’s directions for securing the devices and ensuring clearance between the lamp(s) and combustible materials such as shavings or the boxes themselves.
The woman was transported to a local hospital as a precaution, and released shortly thereafter. While fire damage was mostly limited to the room where the fire began, heavy smoke and water damage has affected most of the 1,900 SF structure. As of last evening, one of the family’s two cats had been located and was apparently uninjured. The other, a large white male with golden eyes and named “King,” had not been found. Two of seven baby chicks were recovered alive, and transported to an emergency vet clinic.
The woman’s husband was not at home at the time of the fire. There were no other injuries to firefighters or civilians and the family is insured.
Taken as firefighters sped to the scene, this photo shows heavy fire engulfing a sleeping cabin after a cell phone charging cord apparently sparked a blaze in the 12’ x 12’ wooden structure.
Teen’s possessions and pets lost in the blaze
(KINGSTON, Wash.) – Two pet reptiles perished and most of a teen’s possessions were destroyed when a cell phone charging cord, left plugged in and on a bed, apparently sparked a fire in his sleeping cabin here on Wednesday morning.
North Kitsap Fire & Rescue (NKF&R) crews were called to a reported shed fire off of Timber Lane at 10:43 a.m. The first crews arrived on scene less than seven minutes after dispatch and found the 12’ x 12’ structure fully-involved in flames. They had the fire under control in minutes, containing it to the shed and preventing its spread to adjacent vehicles.
The 16 year-old occupant of the cabin told crews that about 15 minute prior to discovering the fire, he’d left the cabin to go into the main home for a shower. When he returned, he found black smoke coming from the wood structure and, after a brief attempt at extinguishing the blaze, called 9-1-1 to report the fire.
An investigator from the Kitsap County Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene. Based on witness statements and physical evidence at the scene, she believes that the fire likely started with a cell phone charging cord that had been left on the cabin’s bed and plugged into an extension cord.
The charging cord may have been damaged prior to the fire. Firefighters stress the importance of ensuring that cords are in good condition, noting that use of damaged cords increases fire risk. Officials also caution against leaving any electronic equipment – cell phones, tablets, laptops or their charging cords – on a bed or other soft surface; doing so increases risk of fire because the soft surfaces prevent heat from dissipating and provide readily-combustible fuel to feed flames. In a Facebook post, the teen’s father wrote, “Almost all the teens I know have had their phone charging on their bed at some point – don’t do it! If this had happened an hour or two earlier while he was sleeping, things could have been much worse.”
There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians in the incident.
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