MARYSVILLE Every year, local emergency officials keep special track of the number of fires that flare up during the holiday season.
The numbers for 2007 arent looking too good so far, said Stephanie Price, public information officer for the Marysville Fire District.
At each of the districts four fire stations, wreaths help track of any fires that occur. A red bulb is placed in each wreath for every fire, while a white bulb indicates the death of a firefighter anywhere in the country during the holidays.
According to the fire district, the holiday season started on Thanksgiving Day and continues through New Years Day. Last year, firefighters only needed three red bulbs for that entire time period. As of Dec. 10, the departments wreaths included five red bulbs with about three weeks left in the season.
The wreaths also contain one white bulb to honor the death of a Deland, Fla., firefighter who lost his life Nov. 27 during a training exercise.
The latest fire happened about 4:30 a.m. Dec. 8 at 10428 Shoultes Road. According to Price, firefighters could see smoke coming from the home even as they approached the scene. They immediately tried to enter the home, but found doors and windows blocked with various obstructions.
Once emergency crews managed to get into the first floor of the home, they found a disabled elderly male on the floor in the midst of what Price described as thick, black smoke floating about three feet from ground level. The man was taken to safety. A female resident of the home already was outside, but reports put a second man as possibly still being inside the home.
After cutting a hole in the homes roof, the second man was found unconscious. He was first taken to Marysville-Pilchuck High School where air transportation took him to Harborview Medical Center. The fire district reported his condition as unknown.
Mutual aid for the fire was provided by the Getchell, Tulalip and Lake Stevens fire departments. All in all, five engine companies, one ladder company, one aid company and three medic units responded to the fire. Price said the cause still is under investigation, though officials suspect some type of combustible material was left on a stovetop. The total damage has not been determined.
Other fires have blazed up as follows:
Officials responded at 4:20 p.m. Nov. 22 to a home at 18231 18th Ave. NW. The fire here possibly started in a bathroom closet, according to information released by the fire district. The fire caused about $20,000 in smoke and heat damage to a bathroom and bedroom. The cause still is under investigation by the Snohomish County Fire Marshall.
Firefighters arrived at 5033 139th Place around 10:15 p.m. Nov. 23 in response to a fire in a residential garage. According to the fire district, the homeowner was cutting the seats out of a van then went into the house. When he came back out, the van and then the garage became enflamed. Total damage: $75,000.
Fire sprung up at 15223 Smokey Point Blvd., around 9:40 p.m. Nov. 26. The origin of the fire was the flue of a wood stove, allegedly not properly installed. Total damages this time were estimated at $100,000.
On Nov. 28, at around 8 a.m., emergency workers responded to 8806 47th Dr. NE and found flames engulfing a two-story home. The cause of the fire still is under investigation by the county, with total damages set at around $200,000.
Price said there seems to be no particular pattern to the fires, no problem common to all the blazes. While it is not clear that all or any of the five fires reported were related to holiday activities, Price offered numerous tips to help reduce the chance of fires during the current season.
Judging from information provided by Price, Christmas trees are the most common cause of holiday related fires. The fire district advises tree stands be stable and capable of keeping trees standing upright. Stands bearing live trees should contain a two-day reserve of water. If a natural tree becomes overly brittle, it should be removed from your home. Artificial trees should meet fire resistance standards. No tree should be placed so as to hamper entering or exiting a home or business.
Candles and open flames present further problems. Officials advise keeping them away from all vegetation.