3 Rescued in Seattle (delayed post)

SEATTLE — Seattle firefighters rescued three people from a burning home early Monday morning.

A neighbor across the street from the home called 911 just after 4:30 a.m. to report flames shooting from the garage, said Lt. Sue Stengl with Seattle Fire.

When firefighters arrived at the home in the 9200 block of 26th Ave. NW, they found the garage was fully involved in flames, nearby power lines were down, and the home’s only exit was blocked by the raging fire.

Firefighters were eventually able to get inside the home and lead the three people inside to fresh air on an upper floor deck. A fire truck’s ladder was brought in and two of the residents were able to climb to safety. But the third person was in a wheelchair and remained sheltered on the balcony under protection of firefighters until the flames were doused.

“Fortunately on the deck there was fresh air and the heat wasn’t impinging on that part of the house,” Stengl said. “We were able to keep that gentlemen safe on the deck and then later on were able to get him down as well.”

The man in the wheelchair said firefighters woke him up to bring him to safety.

“I started feeling firemen on my arms and legs,” Tony Riebe said. “You know, ‘Get up, there’s a fire,’ — they brought up my wheelchair and wheeled me out to the deck.”

No one was hurt.

Fire investigators say an overheated extension cord was to blame for the fire. Damage was estimated at $100,000.

Video Link:

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/3-rescued-from-burning-North-Beach-home-222965901.html?tab=video&c=y

countyfiretactics

Curt Isakson is a 35 year veteran of the fire service. Curt is currently a Battalion Chief for Escambia County Fire Rescue. Previously worked 9 years with the Pensacola Fire Department where he was assigned as the Company Officer on Rescue 31. Curt’s fire service experiences started at a young age as a Junior firefighter with the Midway Fire Protection District and rose through the ranks to Captain. He has worked in volunteer, career, and combination departments.

Curt has held all ranks up to Battalion Chief and been assigned to operations, training, inspections, and was Chief of Special Operations for 7 years. Curt owns and operates County Fire Tactics that covers a very diverse range of fire service topics, as well as Firefighter Rescues, a site that documents rescues made by firefighters around the country.

He has annual contracts with numerous departments to provide standardized monthly training for these departments that respond daily together under an automatic aid agreement. Curt teaches nationally to include; FDIC, Firehouse Expo, Firehouse World, Orlando Fire Conference, Atlanta Fire Conference, Bowling Green State University, and owns/operates the annual HROC, COBC, WOTF, CFT ODP on Pensacola Beach. He is a Florida Certified Fire Officer, Instructor, Inspector, Arson, and FLUSAR.

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