WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE CLOSURE: Extra SFD truck, medic unit on the way

| Safety | South Park | Sunrise Heights | West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

(Seattle Fire Department photo of Ladder 13 in 2010)

Not long after the West Seattle Bridge‘s sudden shutdown, we and others started asking whether West Seattle would get additional SFD resources, as happened during the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project (east half of the bridge) in 2011-2012. The early answer was: It’s being discussed. New answer today: Yes. In addition to West Seattle-based Medic 32, SFD will station Medic 26, staffed with two paramedics, at Station 26 in South Park. And joining WS-based Ladder 11 will be an extra truck, Ladder 13, to be based at Station 37 in Sunrise Heights. The announcement says, “Beginning in June, these units will be in-service for responding to emergencies 24-hours per day, seven days a week.” (Ladder 13 was based at Station 11 in Highland Park during the SSV project.) The SFD announcement adds, “The new medic unit and ladder truck are coming from SFD’s reserve apparatus located at the City’s Fire Garage. The department will continue to have other apparatus on reserve to support scheduled maintenance and for any unforeseen mechanical issues. The funding required for staffing the two new units, apparatus maintenance and fuel, and room accommodations at the fire stations is approximately $2.5 million for the remainder of 2020 and will be covered from existing resources.”

kumalavula May 8, 2020 (4:15 pm)

thank you in advance, sfd and medic one!

ACG May 8, 2020 (4:58 pm)

Prolly dumb questions… but where do these extra units come from? Is another area underserved by losing these services, or do they have floating trucks and staff that are able to flex their location? Glad they are able to come and help cover WS during this unexpected mess.

WSB May 8, 2020 (5:08 pm)

It’s in the story.
- ACG May 8, 2020 (7:26 pm)
  
  Yes, that answers about the physical trucks, thank you- I misread that. Who is staffing them? People from the departments where they are now being housed picking up those shifts? Other SFD/paramedics personnel from elsewhere in the city? New hires, specifically for these units?
  - WSB May 8, 2020 (7:41 pm)
    
    Don’t know. I would expect that SFD already has staffing for the reserve units as they’re not much use without staffing. Here’s the entirety of the announcement, which we received a few hours before it went live since we’ve been asking about this.
    https://durkan.seattle.gov/2020/05/to-ensure-appropriate-response-times-during-bridge-closure-city-announces-additional-medic-one-unit-and-ladder-truck-for-west-seattle/

KBear May 8, 2020 (5:05 pm)

If West Seattle were its own city, I’m guessing we’d be the largest city in the state without a hospital.

Bill May 8, 2020 (7:39 pm)

Kent is the 6th largest at 130k and no hospital, so they probably have WS beat.
- J May 8, 2020 (8:06 pm)
  
  They have Valley and Auburn at north and south edges.
Trickycoolj May 8, 2020 (8:35 pm)

Wasn’t there a hospital at one time? I swear my youngest uncle was born in WS as opposed to my mom and her older sibling at VM across the bridge. But that was the late 50s/early 60s? It’s definitely a bummer that some of the larger hospital groups that dominate employer insurance aren’t represented over here.
- WSB May 8, 2020 (11:19 pm)
  
  There were at least 3 sites that have been hospitals.

Kathy May 8, 2020 (5:24 pm)

Just got notice of malfunctioning equipment on the Spokane Street Bridge.

WSB May 8, 2020 (6:35 pm)

We covered on Twitter. Traffic was still getting through both ways plus in the bike/ped lane so we didn’t post here.

esma May 8, 2020 (6:10 pm)

Everything BUT a bridge. They can find money and can pay for everything BUT a bridge. The only way to get out of the WS jail is by ambulance. So should we call 911 if you want to go to town?

Lagartija Nick May 9, 2020 (9:24 am)

*insert giant face palm emoji here*

Flo B May 9, 2020 (6:17 am)

Was a hospital on se corner of Calif. & Alaska. It moved in the early 60’s to north of Westwood Village. Was open until at least the late ’80’s.

Hammer in Hand May 9, 2020 (7:33 am)

Ladder 13 was an addition when the Spokane St viaduct was being worked on a few years back. There was a significant number of responses that truck had during that time. With Ladder 11 stationed at station 32 and Ladder 13 at station 11 response times to the south and southeast areas of West Seattle will be reduced. With Fire, aid, and medic seconds count, and the help is minutes away is a great move and should be a permanent move for both unitsalso with the new Medic 26 this is a great addition for the area. With out it, the next nearest comes from Harbourview (Medic 1or10) or Medic 28 out the Rainer Valley. My only question is when seconds count it why did it take them 8weeks to to make it happen?

Sorry, comment time is over.