FIRE FOLLOWUP: Heroes recognized at City Hall

| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

3:05 PM: Almost 24 hours to the moment after the 3-alarm Lam Bow Apartments fire broke out in Delridge, more than a dozen people from the Seattle Police and Fire Departments and Seattle Housing Authority stood behind Mayor Ed Murray, Fire Chief Harold Scoggins, and Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole at City Hall, as they announced honors for heroes.

(Added: WSB photo of SPD honorees)

“These public servants saved a lot of lives,” said the mayor. At the top of the story is our phone video of what he and the chiefs said; we have more to add, including photos, names, and our conversation afterward with SHA’s Thaddeus Perry, who was working on a project in the main office when a tenant came running in yelling, “Fire, fire, fire” – he rushed into the building to get people out.

4:23 PM: Here’s SHA employee Perry, at center:

He told us he just started working for SHA in the West Seattle area – assigned to several buildings/complexes including Lam Bow – as of about two weeks ago. After he ran into the building and discovered a “barrage” of smoke on the 3rd floor, he was soon joined by SPD Sgt. Britt and they went up and down the hallway, “banging on doors,” to tell people to get out. They all did, and as SFD said yesterday, everyone escaped without injury.

4:55 PM: Here are the names of the SPD personnel who were honored:

Sgt. Jim Britt
Officer Aaron Briggs
Officer Nick Meyst
Officer Garth Lindelef
Officer Nick Burk
Officer German Barreto
Officer Sandro Fleming
Officer Ryan Levens
Officer Jack Johns

ACG September 28, 2016 (3:51 pm)

Was the neighbor who ran into the building to pull the alarm recognized? Took some guts to do that. He should be recognized.

WSB September 28, 2016 (4:00 pm)

ACG, I don’t know if he was on the city’s radar. Should have been but in this case, there are official records of who from SPD, SFD, SHA was there, ran in, but not Seth or any other citizen that helped out … their names probably don’t appear in any official report …

canton September 28, 2016 (9:31 pm)

Thank you Seth, while your heroic efforts won’t be mentioned in the mayor’s photo op,

The neighborhood thanks you.

Hoku September 28, 2016 (9:56 pm)

Amazing human beings. All of them. It’s a honor and a privilege to have police, fire and managers who do their jobs the way I want. But what about Seth?

Bj September 29, 2016 (12:02 am)

I’m guessing that someone has already probably written to the Mayor’s office, bringing attention to Seth and the other neighbors (if any) that helped save lives, at least I’m hoping that someone has. I will be sending a quick email, however the lack of on site experience, I’m only able to speak on behalf of those of us, that weren’t on the scary scene!

Seth September 29, 2016 (8:39 am)

Hey BJ, I appreciate the thought but no need – the whole neighborhood pulled together to do what they could. I do hope however that all of the displaced families get the proper help and attention they need from both city resources and media, now that the smoke has cleared.

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