The Edmonds Fire Department was dispatched to 102 calls in and around Edmonds the week of June 2-8, which brings this year’s call volume to 2,227. Medical crews evaluated 77 patients; fire crews responded to 25 incidents.
A busy response day
On an average day, fire and medical crews respond to approximately 14 calls. June 4 was an exception, however, with a total of 20 calls. The incidents were varied, patient ages ranged from 20 to 87, and all dispatches occurred between the hours of 3:30 a.m. and 10 p.m.
On that day, medical crews were dispatched to evaluate 12 patients in a variety of settings — home, work and residential care facilities; a doctor’s clinic, restaurant and vehicle; one patient with chest pain walked into Station 17.
EMTs and paramedics saw patients suffering from generalized weakness, fainting and dizziness episodes, a reported diabetic emergency that was actually over-consumption of alcohol, and a person who expired unexpectedly. One patient sustained an ankle deformity when she was hit from behind by a running dog.
Firefighters responded to eight calls on June 4; two are described below:
A passer-by reported a structure fire in the 7200 block of 212th Street SW that turned out to be a vacant house with visible heavy fire and smoke. Edmonds police officers were on-scene and advised firefighters that the house is known to be a place that teenagers frequently break into and vandalize. Fire crews had the fire extinguished about 10 minutes after they arrived. Further investigation found that multiple fires had been set inside the house.
Later that day, firefighters were dispatched to a dishwasher on fire. When they entered the home, they saw a layer of smoke that was heaviest in the kitchen. Smoke was coming out from around the outside of the dishwasher, but it was not the appliance that was burning. Crews found a wastebasket under the kitchen sink that contained several dozen cigarette butts and empty packs. Firefighters set-up a power fan, sprayed water into the smoking wastebasket and took it outdoors, and advised the homeowner to contact a plumber to repair PVC pipes damaged from the heat.
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