I was still in bed at 8:03 this morning (April 2) when my PulsePoint app went off. I saw where the call was, threw on some clothes, started recording the traffic camera on my laptop, then jogged up to 15th Ave where I just missed Battalion 4 arriving, but managed to catch Engine 18 pulling up just as a tree behind the building burst into flames.

I got lots of great responses, with just a few snaffus. My camera died as Aid 86 was pulling up, and was slightly out of focus for the next shot. A few of the units went around the block, so I missed getting a good shot of Ladder 10; I was also pretty disappointed that Aid 260 arrived without lights/siren.

Overall, though, can’t complain about getting this many catches on a Saturday morning. No fire details released yet, although a homeless woman on scene told me the fire had likely been started by people stealing copper wire inside the (derelict) building. This is a row of abandoned buildings in Crown Hill (north Seattle); the fire was inside a closed bar called Goofy’s. No injuries reported.

So, I obviously need a new camera, and now that I have a proper job again I can afford one. Any video camera suggestions, or models to avoid?

Clip listing:
0:00 – E18 arriving, while tree bursts into flames
0:41 – L8 arriving
1:12 – E21 and B6 arriving
1:49 – M31 arriving
1:59 – Brief shot of fire building
2:07 – L9 arriving with A86
2:26 – SPD, M44 and Saft2 arriving
3:05 – Dep1 and Staf10 arriving
3:40 – On-scene footage
4:14 – E20 arriving
4:44 – Rehab1 arriving
5:03 – L10 and E9 arriving
5:51 – Parking patrol arriving, and Seattle City Light cutting off power
6:25 – Air 260 arriving
7:06 – On-scene footage, and a few photos
7:50 – Outro

Outro music: Demilitarized Zone by Ethan Meixsell, via the YouTube audio library.