West Seattle scene: Ladder 13’s last crew

Over the past several days, we’ve mentioned the Seattle Fire Department setting today as the date for taking Ladder 13 out of service – the truck added to West Seattle more than a year ago to make up for the fact that extra crews from points east couldn’t get to big incidents over here so easily while there was no SODO access to the westbound West Seattle Bridge. That problem’s over now that the new onramp is OK for emergency use. So last night, we covered what turned out to be L13’s final call, a crash a few blocks away; this morning we stopped by the station right before 8 am, when we had heard the truck officially would go out of service. Indeed, the 8 am tone and roll-call announcement sounded over a speaker, and with that, the crew said, they were done. From left in our photo, Ladder 13’s final crew – Mike McDonald, Lt. Jim Dallas, Scott Marcus, Matt Reilly, and Babe Witter.

westseattledood July 2, 2012 (11:35 pm)

Thanks to each of you for your fantastic service here in Highland Park and West Seattle.

Rob July 3, 2012 (6:49 am)

Matt Reilly! My Big B from WSU! :)

Jennifer July 3, 2012 (6:57 am)

Thank you for all you have done and will continue to do for the public. We’ll miss you here in West Seattle!

enviromaven July 3, 2012 (10:24 am)

Thank you for your service and dedication. Stay safe and take care!

Ms. Picky July 3, 2012 (11:08 am)

Thank you, Ladder 13 crew!

WS Resident July 3, 2012 (12:56 pm)

Wow – that makes sense, especially since there are now multiple multi-story residential developments either open with residents or under construction in West Seattle. Why would West Seattle possibly need its own ladder truck to protect citizens living in these high-rise structures in case of a fire?

Big G July 3, 2012 (4:39 pm)

West Seattle DOES have a Ladder truck in service 24 hrs a day. It’s Ladder 11 and it is located at station 32 at 3715 sw Alaska Way. Ladder 11 was an additional truck for the time while response times for secondary resources could be down during construction.

HockeyWitch July 3, 2012 (6:35 pm)

Thank you Ladder 13 Crew!!!

Ginny July 4, 2012 (8:15 am)

Will these comments get to the crew?

I’m always grateful to our fire/rescue crews. I was once next door (just good fire-preventive double-wall construction between us, and the fire was put out before my place burned too) to a to-the-walls burn, so I’ve seen their work first-hand. This was not this crew, but where I previously lived in Redmond, but it’s the same skill set.

Sorry, comment time is over.