Seattle Fire Department
The Seattle Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Seattle, Washington, United States. The department is responsible for an area of , including of waterfront, with a population of 713,700. There is a total of 1,065 employees with 981 uniformed personnel and 84 civilian employees. History. The Seattle Fire Department got its start as a volunteer fire department that was taken over by the City of Seattle on April 11, 1884. On June 6, 1889 the Great Seattle Fire broke out and destroyed over of the city. Insurance investigators charged the city  with not having adequately trained firefighters to provide protection for the residents. As a result, the Seattle Fire Department was officially established on October 17, 1889 as a paid professional department. Fire stations and apparatus. the department operates out of 34 fire stations spread across the city. due to mold, Station 31 is permanently closed. Notable incidents. Great Seattle Fire. On June 6, 1889, the Great Seattle Fire broke out in a cabinet shop located at the corner of 1st Avenue and Madison Street. The flames spread rapidly and the small volunteer department was unable to slow the fire with  the town's small water systems. By the time the fire was extinguished, of homes and businesses had been destroyed. Pang warehouse fire. On January 5, 1995, the Mary Pang's Food Products warehouse burned in the International District. Four firefighters died when the floor of the warehouse collapsed. It was later determined that the fire was set by Martin Pang, the son of the owner. Seattle's Fallen Firefighters Memorial was built to remember the four who perished.