Country United States City Seattle Staffing Career | State Washington Annual calls 94,346 (2015) | |
 | ||
Employees 1,065 total (2012)
- 981 uniformed
- 84 civilian | ||
The Seattle Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Seattle, Washington, United States. The department is responsible for an area of 84 square miles (220 km2), including 193 miles (311 km) of waterfront, with a population of over 634,000.
Contents
History
The Seattle Fire Department got its start as a volunteer fire department that was taken over by the City of Seattle on April 11, 1884. On June 6, 1889 the Great Seattle Fire broke out and destroyed over 64 acres (26 ha) of the city. Insurance investigators charged the city with not having adequately trained firefighters to provide protection for the residents. As a result, the Seattle Fire Department was officially established on October 17, 1889 as a paid professional department.
Fire Stations/Apparatus
As of June 2015 the department operates out of 34 fire stations spread across the city.
Apparatus Glossary/Callsigns
Great Seattle Fire
On June 6, 1889, the Great Seattle Fire broke out in a cabinet shop located at the corner of 1st Avenue and Madison Street. The flames spread rapidly and the small volunteer department was unable to slow the fire with the town's small water systems. By the time the fire was extinguished, 64 acres (26 ha) of homes and businesses had been destroyed.
Pang Warehouse Fire
On January 5, 1995, the Mary Pang's Food Products warehouse burned in the International District. Four firefighters died when the floor of the warehouse collapsed. It was later determined that the fire was set by Martin Pang, the son of the owner. Seattle's Fallen Firefighters Memorial was built to remember the four who perished.