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Fire chief reports rising calls, scooter-battery house fire and 2-acre grass fire; city schedules emergency-preparedness fair
Summary
The fire department reported 339 calls in the quarter (285 EMS, 54 fire), a house fire likely caused by a scooter battery thermal runaway, a two-acre grass fire with mutual aid, receipt of a $2,643 Bureau of EMS grant, and plans for an Oct. 16 emergency-preparedness fair.
The Washington Terrace fire chief told the City Council on Aug. 5 that the department handled 339 calls during the quarter (285 medical calls and 54 fire calls). The chief said nursing-home-related calls made up roughly 26 to 27% of the department's workload.
The chief described a recent house fire near the golf course that investigators believe started when an electric scooter battery experienced a thermal runaway while parked in a garage on a very hot day. The fire caused severe garage damage and smoke and water damage inside the home, according to the chief.
The department also responded to a grass fire mapped at just over 2 acres along a fence line near the hospital. Mutual aid from neighboring fire agencies'including South Ogden, Ogden City, Weber Fire District and Roy'assisted on the incident, which threatened nearby houses before being contained. The chief said there is not a confirmed human suspect; witnesses reported seeing a child running from the area but investigators had no identified suspect at the time of the meeting.
Chiefs and staff noted the hospital property manager had changed vendors and increased grounds maintenance, which staff said likely reduced fuel loads along the fence line. The chief said crews worked with the state fire warden after the fire to mitigate hazards.
On the financial front, the department received a Bureau of EMS grant of $2,643 to purchase medical supplies. The chief also announced an emergency-preparedness fair tentatively set for Oct. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m.; agency planners were considering locations such as the fire station or the public workshop and expected additional partners including Be Ready Utah, the county health department and utility companies.
Ending: The chief asked council members to share ideas for the preparedness fair; staff will finalize location and date to avoid conflicts with neighbouring events and school calendars.
