Lewis County Sirens.com

Hector M. Patino Jr. prepares for his turn before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – An anonymous report of someone growing marijuana at a residence on the 3300 block of Jackson Highway south of Chehalis led to a visit from law enforcement and a man confessing he did have some plants in his garage, but most were dying.

After deputies secured a search warrant, they reportedly found more than 500 plants in the garage and then 775 starter plants in another room in the home.

Hector M. Patino Jr., 52, told deputies he brought the plants with him when the family moved in a few weeks ago, according to court documents. He said his wife and child knew about them, but didn’t tend to them in any way.

Patino was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail after the visit on Tuesday by sheriff’s deputies. He was brought before a judge yesterday afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court, charged with one count of manufacture of marijuana.

Judge James Lawler allowed him release on $10,000 unsecured bail.

According to charging documents in the case, deputies went to the home where they spoke to Patino’s wife, who told them there was no marijuana being grown there and they should wait for her husband.

As they walked back to their vehicles, the deputies smelled the odor of marijuana from the closed garage and heard what sounded like fans running, according to the documents.

When they were able to contact the husband, he allowed them inside to search part of the residence, and subsequently, the rest of the area, according to the allegations.

In a loft area, the deputies saw remnants of potting soil and observed the area appeared to have been cleared out. In the end, deputies located other items as well as the plants, such as several fluorescent lights, fans, filters, thermostats, an electronic pump and bags of potting soil, according to charging documents.

Patino’s arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 31. Manufacture of marijuana is a felony with a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Those in the know are advising now is perhaps not the time to take a lawn mower out into tall dry grass.

The cause of the fire that scorched an estimated 485 acres in Rochester is not yet determined, according to authorities, but south of Ethel, it was a riding mower that sparked a brush fire yesterday afternoon.

Crews were called just before 4:30 p.m. yesterday to the 400 block of Tucker Road where an individual had been cutting grass and started a fire, according to Lewis County Fire District 8.

It got into the edge of some trees and burned about two acres before it was finally extinguished, Fire Chief Duran McDaniel said.

They arrived to find they needed to cross a small wooden bridge to get to the fire and laid out hoses, and got brush trucks from Districts 2, 5 and the state Department of Natural Resources to access the area, according to McDaniel.

About 20 firefighters joined in the effort and all but DNR were able to leave by about 7 p.m., he said.

The wind was blowing in a direction away from a home on the property, according to McDaniel.

Fortunately, the fire was dispatched quickly and District 8 had its neighbors and the resources to keep it from spreading, McDaniel said.

“I caution the public, do not try to mow tall, dead grass with anything mechanical,” he said.

The chief said the idea takes him back to two years ago, when a brush hog operating in a field led to a nearly 200-acre fire on a chicken farm on Gore Road.

The wooden bridge was damaged, and the brush trucks had to find a shallow spot in the stream in order to leave Tucker Road, he said.

A spokesperson for the state Department of Natural Resources today is offering a recommendation for the public along the same lines, in response to the Rochester fire.

While it is contained, roughly 200 people continue to work the fire. Teams are assessing hazards including trees, the number of affected structures, burnt material, downed power lines, runoff and hazardous materials.

Lost were two primary residences, one commercial building, one unoccupied historical residence and one historical barn, according to Thurston County officials.

Outdoor burn bans are in place in Lewis and Thurston counties.

“We want to remind citizens to pay attention to their surroundings and be cautious of any outdoor activities.” DNR Communications Manager Janet Pearce said, “Even a lawnmower can start a fire.”

An image from early on yesterday from the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office

Updated at 12:01 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Authorities last night said fire lines were holding and some residents were allowed to return home after flames swept through more than 400 acres in Rochester.

Four residences, two barns and also a business at Southwest 183rd Avenue and Loganberry Street burned, according to Thurston County Emergency Management. No injuries have been reported.

West Regional Fire Authority was initially dispatched at 1:33 p.m. yesterday for a brush fire at Wakley Lane and Southwest 183rd Avenue, near the southwest corner of the Scatter Creek Wildlife Recreation Area, according to the fire department. Numerous fire agencies joined them with ground crews and air drops as the fire moved to the east side of Interstate 5.

Crews planned to remain on scene through the night working on small spot fires for the safety of the community, according to WTRFA.

West Thurston Fire stated last night that those confirmed as property owners within the evacuation area could return home, but the general public would not be allowed in.

More than 1,000 people were without power. Thurston County Emergency Management said 100 homes were evacuated.

A reunification site was at first arranged for Rochester High School, but a site opened at the Rochester LDS Church located at 18501 Paulson Street SW according to Thurston County Emergency Management.

Thurston County Emergency Management last night reported the location where the fire began was in a different spot, at the southeast corner of the wildlife area, near Southwest 183rd Avenue, between Guava Street and Case Road.

WTRFA said last night a cause had not yet been determined, but they confirmed no lightning strikes for the area.

West Thurston Fire Chief Robert Scott requested and received state fire assistance yesterday afternoon, which brought in two wildland strike teams from Pierce County.

Others assisting included fire departments with Thurston, Lewis and Grays Harbor counties, the state Department of Natural Resources, Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, Thurston County Public Works, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, according to WTRFA.

The fire incident management team was to meet this morning. A fire camp has been set up at Rochester High School.

WTRFA indicates information is being provided by Thurston County Emergency Management, which can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

A soup kitchen was to be opened until 10 p.m. last night and again this morning until 10 a.m.

For the latest on road closures, check Thurston County Public Works.

For updates on power outages, see Puget Sound Energy

Thurston County Emergency Management can be reached here

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Fire camp set up at Rochester High School as crews continue to extinguish fire and assess structure and acreage loss. / Thurston County Emergency Management

Image from Chehalis Tribal Emergency Operations just before 2:30 p.m.

Updated at 6:24 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A large wildland fire in Rochester has jumped across Interstate 5,  prompted several road closures and led to evacuations.

West Thurston Regional Fire Authority Lt. Lanette Dyer says most people who have been asked to leave their homes are saying they want to stay, and that is not a good idea.

“If you’re being asked to evacuate, you really need to pick up what’s really valuable like your pets and your children and get to Rochester High School,” she said.

The fire is estimated at 350 acres and growing, the state Fire Marshal’s Office said just after 6 o’clock this evening. Named the Scatter Creek Fire, it is threatening homes, crops and commercial structures in the area.

Evacuations are currently in effect for approximately 100 homes, state Fire Marshal John Wabel stated.

The right lane of northbound I-5 was closed near milepost 90 near  Southwest 183rd Avenue beginning about 3:20 p.m., according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office just before 3 p.m. asked people to avoid the area. At 4:45 p.m., they said the fire is moving in a southeast direction and that homes southeast from Sargent Road and Wakley Lane to Nutmeg Street are being evacuated.

Dyer said late this afternoon this is a very large scale fire, one she’s been so busy with she could not guesstimate its size, or the number of firefighters from surrounding areas who have joined them.

The fire has has damaged historical homes, two farms and several other houses, she said. It is burning in grass, brush and timber.

State fire assistance was mobilized at 4:30 p.m. at the request of West Thurston Regional Fire Authority Chief Robert Scott. Two wildland strike teams were ordered and the fire will be managed by a Type 3 Incident Management Team.

The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray is activated to a Level 2 to coordinate state assistance.

The fire started about 1:33 p.m. today and the cause is under investigation.

Thurston County Emergency Management issued a list of local streets shut down at 3:50 p.m. today:

Closures include:

• Southwest 183rd Avenue between Wakley Lane on the west end and Loganberry Street Southwest at the east end

• Case Road between 183rd Ave. and 180th Ave.

• Guava Street SW between 183rd and 180th

• Southwest 180th Avenue between Guava Street to Case Road

• Ivan, Guava South, Elderberry, Citrus, Apricot, Seco Lane all at 183rd

• Southwest 183rd Avenue at Sargent Road to Old Highway 99

• Case Road from 183rd to Maytown Road

• 140th at Case Road

• Nutmeg Street SW at Loganberry at 183rd

Rochester High School is being used as a reunification site, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.

Emergency Management states: If you are needing pet sheltering or transport due to the Rochester fire that is currently burning, please contact Diana Hardy at 360-273-7440.

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Image from Thurston County Sheriff’s Office

Kelsey T. Rasmussen, in red, is shown to his seat in Lewis County Superior Court

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – He’s charged with knowingly starting a fire in his own home, the top level of a Centralia duplex.

At first he said he was playing with hand sanitizer that caught fire and he got scared so he left.

But then he admitted to a police detective he started the fire because he was mad he was getting evicted with no reason given on the notice, according to prosecutors.

The 19-year-old Centralia man has no criminal history, but was charged yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court with first-degree arson, a felony with a maximum penalty of life in prison. It’s also a strike offense.

Kelsey T. Rasmussen was brought before a judge yesterday afternoon where his bail was set at $50,000.

Temporary defense attorney Rachael Tiller told the judge Rasmussen has no income, at this time, and Judge Andrew Toynbee appointed Centralia lawyer Don Blair to represent him.

Centralia police say they found Rasmussen a short distance away waiting for a taxi as firefighters and police converged around 9 p.m. on Wednesday at the 1200 block of Windsor Avenue where smoke was rising from the roof vents and the second-story windows were blackened.

The first-floor unit was occupied at the time but everyone was able to get out safely without injury, according to authorities. A woman who lived on the ground floor described her upstairs neighbor as the tall, skinny kid with glasses that usually wore a black hoody.

The fire was extinguished, but it caused heavy damage to the upper level of the house which had been converted to a duplex, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

A fire captain told police there was a can of shaving cream in the middle of the bed, which looked like where the fire began, according to charging documents.

The captain said the smoke detectors were found outside sitting on the railing on the porch.

Rasmussen’s arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.
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For background, read “Resident of Centralia duplex arrested following fire there” from Thursday August 17, 2017, here

Windsor Avenue in north Centralia. / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 19-year-old man was arrested for arson last night after a fire that heavily damaged the upstairs unit of a duplex in north Centralia.

Firefighters called just before 9 p.m. to the 1200 block of Windsor Avenue found smoke rising from the roof vents and blackened second-story windows, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

The first-floor unit was occupied at the time but everyone was able to get out safely without injury, according to authorities.

The fire department describes the structure as a house converted to a duplex.

Centralia police say they found Kyle T. Rasmussen Jr. a short distance away waiting for a taxi. He had recently been living in the duplex, according to the Centralia Police Department.

Firefighters extended a hose line to the upper level via an outside staircase to extinguish the fire, according to Fire Capt. Scott Weinert.

They were assisted by members of the Chehalis Fire Department and were on scene about four hours, according to Weinert.

Centralia police this morning indicate in a brief summary of events they believe Rasmussen  intentionally set the fire. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree arson.