Posted 1:50 p.m. Fire Chief Gregory Dean met with members of the media today to answer tough questions about how the department handled the tragic fire in Fremont yesterday. Many neighbors have criticized the department (see our earlier story and comments below it) for taking too long to put water on the fire and make an attempt to save the people trapped inside.
“Our hearts go out to the ones who lost their loved ones,” he said. “I think all of us spent the night looking and reading comments and trying to see what went on.” Dean defended how firefighters reacted at the scene. “Firefighters went out yesterday and did their jobs,” he said. “(They’re) beating themselves up.”
Many questions focused on Ballard-based Engine 18, which suffered a mechanical problem switching from “drive mode to pump mode,” which left the first attacking firefighters without water (see this photo). “Things can happen at the most uncommon times,” he said. “And making sure you send additional units, so if you have a mechanical problem you can deal with it. ” Dean said the second unit, Engine 8, arrived two minutes after Engine 18, and was the first to put water on the fire. Several other engines followed a minute later, including Engine 20, which was briefly delayed on the Fremont Bridge after dropping one of its hoses. (Earlier Dean said Engine 20 was the second to arrive, but a review of radio records discovered it was Engine 8).
Firefighters at Station 10, where Chief Dean held his press conference, demonstrated how to switch an engine from drive to pump mode. This is the control that failed on Engine 18.
Reporters pressed Dean on whether firefighters should have entered the burning building sooner. “They saw heavy black smoke and flames coming from the unit upon arrival,” he said, explaining that such conditions rarely sustain life. “When firefighters enter a structure, they have to have water with them. Having flames and fire on the first floor, they cannot proceed to the second floor, until they put that fire out. Because if they don’t put that fire out, when you get upstairs, you’ll have fire follow behind you, and burn you and your hose.”
Dean said the department is pulling the mechanical records of Engine 18, and is conducting a full investigation. After the press conference, Chief Dean met with the victims’ family and members of the Tigray Community Association.
Updates: Community mourns the loss | Chief defends firefighters’ actions
Thank you firefighters for doing your best with the hand you got dealt yesterday. Your hard work is appreciated.
This is a horrible tragedy and my heartfelt condolences go out to those who’ve lost a loved one.
My BIL is a firefighter and is haunted by stories similar to this always. These guys risk their lives daily to save ours and when they are not able it cuts to the core. They are not to blame for the blaze that took these young lives.
yes, really tough on these guys. i feel for everyone directly touched by this terrible event.
I’m sorry for those of you who lived under the illusion, but the fire department like the police department operates not first for public safety but to support the political objectives of the city government. I know no one here is naive enough to expect a quick and effective response from the Seattle PD, but now we have confirmation this from the fire department as well.
If you think I’m being harsh, TWO UNITS had malfunctions that delayed their response. The fire department is an organism that doesn’t have to perform its function often, but when it does it has to do it RIGHT NOW, PERFECTLY. Firefighters are the most competitively selected employees of any kind; fire departments have large budgets and get first priority, understandably. When the call comes we should see better performance than we saw the other day.
“the fire department like the police department operates not first for public safety but to support the political objectives of the city government.”
Keep the tin foil on tight.
Jim – Your comments are absurd, unfounded, and despicable.
Jim— I agree with you whole-heartedly.
sad, but true
Jim,
Fire departments may have large budgets, relatively speaking, but that’s only relative to the amount of money available. Not a lot of $ in the coffer, then the FD gets less than if there was $$$ in the coffers for fire, police, etc.
If yer gonna inject politics into 5 deaths here, then the argument that those who GUT services from the Federal level, on down, in order to prove government doesn’t work, are to blame.
So don’t go there, and try thinking about the survivors and what they’ve lost.
jim – if your statement is true, than all firefighters must be “swing voters” who support whatever party is in power and have no party affiliation or loyalty.
that would mean that my friends who are firefighters and voted against mcginn (or obama) are anomolies.
TIME LINE:
10:04:03 – 911 call received
10:04:35 – Fire Department response was dispatched
10:09:05 – Engine 18 arrived first on scene
10:09:18 – Ladder 8 arrived
10:10:35 – Medic Unit 18 arrived
10:11:35 – Engine 20 arrived (second fire engine)
4 units arrived within 8 minutes. 8 minutes which included 911 dispatching the call, firefighters putting on their equipment, starting up the trucks, and then navigating through traffic and around Seattle drivers who generally don’t know (I see it happen every time) to pull over to the right when they hear sirens…
Yes, PLEASE PULL OVER WHEN AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE IS APPROACHING!
Some idiots in Seattle think they don’t have to pull over when the sirens and flashing lights are coming. JERKS.
Idiots idiots idiots.
Yes, let’s have an impartial transparent report, open for public view, outlining reasons for the equipment failure.
Response was spot on.
Blackstock Lumber and Pang warehouse fires, though, still remain as big demerits.
“I’m sorry for those of you who lived under the illusion, but the fire department like the police department operates not first for public safety but to support the political objectives of the city government. I know no one here is naive enough to expect a quick and effective response from the Seattle PD, but now we have confirmation this from the fire department as well. ”
Jim: Yes, please tighten up the tinfoil and keep drinkin the kool aid! That is one of the most ridiculous opinion’s I think I have ever heard. Next it’ll be that the SFD failed to act quickly because the people stuck in the apartment weren’t white and it was low-income housing.
The absurdity of the speculation and rumors that people come up simply amazes me. There’s no way it could possibly be exactly what it was, an equiment malfunction that prevented the 1st arriving unit to get water pumping immediately. Apparently the Firefighters should’ve entered the building and with out water and then instead of the tragic loss of 5 lives, there would be a few dead firefighters added to that number as well.
I hope that day never comes that you or your family need help from the SFD or SPD, or if it does, based on your statement, they should call you first and ask what your political affiliation is before they come out!!!
Though I have immense respect for them, Firefighters are just men and women. They don’t have super powers or suits like Iron Man. Many of them take risks that are beyond reasonable when they assess the possibility of rescuing trapped people. Often the situations are very dangerous yet they still gamble their lives that they can get in and back out safely. To think of them as superhuman or expendable to save your possessions or loved ones is not reasonable to say the least. These Firefighters are second guessing and mourning today only less than the families. Certainly more than any rubberneckers, gawkers or blog commenters. Next time one of you neighbors and gawkers are first on scene, get your ass into that house and be the hero. To the Firefighters, thank you for doing your chosen job. My thoughts are with those Firefighters that were there as well as the families.