400 firefighters throughout Seattle have raised more than $100,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

During the “Fill the Boot” campaign on July 15th and 16th, firefighters stood on street corners around town collecting coins, cash and checks for the non-profit. “MDA would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all drivers who dropped their dollars and change into the boots of Fire Fighters,” the press release from the MDA states. In total, drivers around Seattle donated $102,731.

Traffic at many intersections in the city could be a little snarled today. Seattle firefighters will be asking drivers to “Fill the Boot” fundraisers for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Drivers are encouraged to toss cash, checks and change into the firefighters boots. Last year the fundraiser broke the northwest region record by collecting $131,000. Ballard’s own station 18 collected a department record of $24,662. Not only did this earn them bragging rights, they also received the “Coffee for a Year” prize. (Thank you Derek for the tip!)

The 4th of July weekend is a time for fun, family and of course, fireworks! However it also tends to be a few days where there’s heightened risk for accidents. In an effort to keep the community safe, the Seattle Police Department and Seattle Fire Department have released this public safety announcement:

The Seattle Police Department and Seattle Fire Department would like to remind the public that there are no legal fireworks in the City of Seattle.

The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks are prohibited. Fireworks offenses are gross misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine.

Fireworks pose a fire hazard to property and present a safety risk to those who use them. Every year the Seattle Fire Department responds to fireworks-related fires and injuries. Each and every one of these incidents could have been prevented.

On the 4^th of July, 911 centers become overloaded with non-emergency fireworks calls. DO NOT call 911 unless you have a life-threatening emergency and need immediate help from police, fire or medics. Unnecessary 911 calls block people with real emergencies from reaching 911 and getting help.

Any fireworks-related fires or injuries should be reported directly to 911. Other fireworks violations may be reported by calling the Seattle Police non-emergency number at (206) 625-5011.

The Seattle Police and Seattle Fire Department wish you a safe and enjoyable 4^th of July celebration!

Happy 4th of July Queen Anne! Have a great weekend, and if you feel like sharing some of your favorite pictures of the fireworks, send them in to tips@queenanneview.com.

Between 12 and 5 p.m. today the Washington SeaGrant will be conducting a training exercise at the Elliott Bay Marina that may spark curiosity for a few in the neighborhood, according to Seattle Human Services Department Emergency Management Planner Thalia Syracopoulos.

Washington SeaGrant is holding a training event that will include flares, burn pan fires, divers in the water and other activities likely to be viewed by cruise ship passengers, waterfront visitors, plus the communities in the area of Elliott Bay Marina. It may also visible from the Seattle Municipal Tower.

According to Thalia, the Seattle Fire Department, Seattle Police Department, Harbor Patrol and the Coast Guard have been notified of the event. Thalia also reminds onlookers that the event is merely a training exercise and asks them not to call 911.

(Thanks to Julie for the tip!)

The Seattle Fire Department has been distributing arson watch fliers (.pdf) around Uptown after an upsurge in dumpster fires in the neighborhood over the last eight months.

“Six intentionally set fires have occurred in a specific area of Lower Queen Anne since September 2009, and three of them occurred in the month of April,” Fire Department Public Information Officer Dana Vander Houwen told QueenAnneView on Friday.

According to Terrie Johnston at the Seattle Police Department, most of these fires have been set in dumpsters in Lower Queen Anne (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Avenues West, between Mercer and Aloha streets), and were lit using items at the scene.

Although there were no injuries from any of these fires, the Fire Department encourages residents to follow the information on the fliers to find out what they can do to help prevent neighborhood homes and businesses from arson. On the top of the list: securing dumpsters, preventing recycling bins from overflowing, leaving a porch light on and calling 911 to report any suspicious activity.

Early Sunday morning several neighbors wrote in reporting a loud explosion-like noise in the Lower Queen Anne area.

Elizabeth C. wrote, “I heard a loud explosion last night [Saturday] at around 2 am. I live on West Olympic Place near 3rd – it woke me up. I know we had that mini-bomber a month or so ago and that was what I thought it might be (since the last bomb was 2 blocks from us)… It was very loud – and did not sound like a gun shot or fireworks.”

Tiffany S. wrote, “I have been searching the news sites to see if there have been any other reports of an explosion in lower Queen Anne again? May 9th (two months exactly since the last “home made bomb”) around 1:30am my husband and I heard a VERY loud explosion, within a block or two of 3rd and Olympic… It was so loud it shook our windows a bit.”

However Johnston says the rumors of recent “homemade bombs” in the area are inaccurate. “I’ve had several inquiries about “homemade bombs” being used in the dumpsters and want you to know there is no truth to this,” she wrote.

The Seattle Police Arson Bomb Squad is currently handling the criminal investigation. To report a dumpster fire or for more information, call Johnston at SPD Crime Prevention at 206-684-4741.

An 18-year-old woman is currently being transported by medics from the SPU campus in Queen Anne to Harbroview Medical Center, according to Seattle Fire Department PIO Dana Vander Houwen. At approximately 7:13 a.m. medics were called to 500 W Emerson St., and have been attempting to revive the girl with CPR while en route to the hospital. So far this is all the information Vander Houwen could tell us. We’ll have more details as the situation unfolds. (Thanks Silver for the tip!)

Update 10:32 a.m.: SPU’s News and Media Relations Manager Tracy Norlen has confirmed that the 18-year-old woman is a student at the school, but does not have any more information concerning her name, academic year, or present condition. She will be keeping us posted when she knows more.

There have been quite a few holiday lights popping up on homes and trees around town. ‘Tis the season. However, every year house fires peak in December and January. So if you plan on decorating your home will all the lights you can muster this year, the Seattle Fire Department has some safety tips for you to reduce the chance of your festive decorations becoming a fire hazard. They write:

Over the weekend, a house fire in Seattle was caused by an overloaded electrical outlet that had multiple strings of Christmas lights plugged into it. The fire caused $20,000 in damage. Every year, Christmas trees and lighting-related fires spike in December and January. Cords and plugs are the leading type of equipment involved in the ignition of Christmas trees.

Before you hang up holiday lights this year, Seattle Fire Department wants to remind you to make sure you take the following steps:

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use decorative lights.
• Do not use any string lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or loose bulbs .
• Do not connect more than three light strands together.
• To avoid damage to the cord, do not use nails or staples to hang lights.
• Always unplug tree lights before leaving home or going to sleep.

See more holiday safety tips here.

On Sunday it will be time to “fall back” again, so don’t forget to set your clock back an hour when you go to bed on Saturday night after celebrating Halloween on the hill.

The Seattle Fire Department also suggests you replace the batteries in your smoke alarms when you change your clocks. Here’s why:

Most fire deaths happen in homes without working smoke alarms. The most commonly cited cause of nonworking smoke alarms: dead or missing batteries. In a home fire, a working smoke alarm can cut the risk of death by half.

The Seattle Fire Department can install smoke alarms and batteries free of charge in homes where the homeowner is either a senior citizen, living on a low income, or has a disability. If you live outside the city of Seattle, please contact your local Fire Department to request assistance.

Smoke alarm maintenance is one of the simplest methods of protecting your home and family from fires. For more information or to request assistance changing smoke alarms and batteries contact the Seattle Fire Department at (206) 386-1337.

One of our readers, Chris Blakeley, took these photos of the fire at The Fairview apartments early Wednesday morning.

According to Chris, Queen Anne Avenue was closed to through traffic due to the fire.

The Seattle Fire Department sent a total of five dispatches to 1000 Queen Anne Ave N between 2:30-3:20 a.m. to put the fire out.

The fire was contained and damage was done primarily to the apartment it originated in, on the second floor of the building.

SFD officers found the fire to be accidental, caused by “improper disposal of smoking materials,” causing $125,000 in damage.

Still, Chris said that after nine years living in that apartment building, he met more of his neighbors in that night (many of which were veterans to the building) than he ever had before.

And although the hallway is charred black and the stairways smell a bit like smoke, everyone got out safely.

Seattle Fire Department officials were at The Fairview apartments this afternoon, located at 1000 Queen Anne Avenue North, evaluating the damage of this morning’s fire.

The fire, which originated on the second floor that officials say was an accident caused by “improper disposal of smoking materials,” did an estimated $125,000 worth of damage to the unit as well as the outside of the building and the units above.

Still, the real story is in the fact that everyone got out safely. When the fire broke out at around 2:30 a.m. this morning everyone in the building was able to evacuate in time, owed in large part to the two occupants of the unit where the fire started, who made sure every unit in the building was alerted. A reader, the_brown_recluse, who lives in The Fairview commented on our earlier story. They wrote,

My girlfriend and I live in this building, The Fairview. We were awakened by one of the two occupants of the burning apt, who ran from floor to floor alerting tenants. We live on the first floor, opposite end of the building, but to look out the patio door and see this bright orange flame blowing out windows I was sure the whole building would be engulfed (it’s my first big fire). Fortunately, the Good Ol’ SFD was here within moments, and that big nasty fire was extinguished rather easily with some blasts from the hose. Cheers to the SFD, and to the kid who woke everyone up. I never got to ask the two tenants how they were, where they would stay, etc. I hope they are feeling ok, and aren’t feeling too guilty.

If anyone has any more information on the fire or thoughts to share, comment on this story or email us at tips@queenanneview.com.