Lewis County Sirens.com

The Locust Street crossing in Centralia sees more than 50 trains pass through it daily

Updated

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CENTRALIA – Victor J. Bonagofski, a nearly lifelong resident of Centralia, lost his life when he fell off his bicycle on the railroad tracks and was hit by a freight train on Wednesday night.

Police say Bonagofski was at the Locust Street crossing, headed east and the crossing arms had come down. Witnesses told police he was was unable to move off the tracks prior to being struck.

The 72-year-old who made his living recycling and selling car parts had been behind the Hub Tavern on South Tower Avenue not long before it happened.

He was near the dumpsters, “doing what he normally does,” Centralia resident Jennifer Holt said.

She’d noticed him while she and her boyfriend were out in the bar’s beer garden.

Holt said she was taken aback when she learned later what had happened, and who was killed.

“I don’t know him, I know who he is,” she said this morning. “I’d see him a lot, doing the cardboard thing.”

The Lewis County coroner today released his name and said he concluded the death was accidental.

Born in North Dakota, Bonagofski was 10th of 14 children. His family moved to Centralia in 1950, according to one of his more than 60 nieces and nephews.

He lived on Reynolds Avenue, on a parcel of roughly two acres that over the years has drawn the attention of city and county officials, concerned about his thick collection of recyclables and vehicles.

He owned the land there, according to nephew Kevin Bonagofski.

Back in January of 2008, more than a dozen government employees, including law enforcement with their guns drawn, visited his property, accusing Bonagofski of operating an illegal wrecking yard. When they knocked on the door of his soon-to-be condemned mobile home tucked amongst scores of cars and trucks, Bonagofski had been burning sticks and blackberry vines in his wood stove and listening to a local radio talk show.

Twice before, the then-64-year-old said, they’d filed nuisance abatements on his property.

The man who earned a degree in business administration from Seattle University years earlier said it was time consuming, getting the property cleaned up – which is what he suspected officials really wanted – especially with interruptions of lawsuits and civil actions.

Lewis County code enforcement had been talking with him again in recent months.

Nephew Kevin Bonagofski said his uncle never married and had no children.

“I heard one time, he had a mail order bride, but it didn’t work out,” said Dave Dix who works at the commercial properties adjacent to Bonagofski’s compound.

Dix said Bonagofski would stop over once or twice a week, often buying cars when there was an auction.

“It was definitely a shock, he’s gonna be missed, that’s for sure,” Dix said.

Dix said he was told Bonagofski just laid there after he fell down; he wondered if maybe he had a heart attack or hit his head and was knocked out.

BNSF spokesperson Gus Melonas said it was an empty grain train headed from Kalama to Montana that was involved. Crew on the northbound train saw someone and tried to stop, Melonas said.

“They went into an emergency brake application, but impact was made, unfortunately,” Melonas said.

It didn’t entirely surprise Dix that the neighbor would have tried to pedal across even after the crossing arms came down. He wasn’t exactly known for abiding by the rules.

“If it wasn’t in the Constitution, then it wasn’t the law,” Dix said. “He was hard on that, he pushed that issue.”

However, he was a good person, in good shape for a man of his age and was busy from daylight to dark, according to Dix. His driver’s license had been suspended, many times, so he usually rode a bicycle pulling a small trailer, he said.

“He was a worker, man he was a worker,” Dix said. “We used to watch him go up the road and come back with that trailer full.”

Lavonne Riggen, Bonagofski’s younger sister, came to the property this afternoon to help look for important documents.

“A lot people looked at Vic and thought he was just a bum,” Riggen said. “But they didn’t know how smart he was; he graduated from Seattle University with degrees in political science and business.”

He was just stubborn about his rights, she said.

The Centralia woman said her brother also was gifted when it came to auto mechanics.

“We used to say he was born with crank case oil in his blood,” she said.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS –  The fire that consumed and scorched 102 acres of private property in Onalaska is considered 70 percent contained this morning.

Since Monday it has been mostly smoldering and smoking, having burned young Douglas fir and alder as well as thick underbrush and leftovers from previous logging.

Tuesday August 11, 2015

No one has been injured and no structures lost, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

One hundred seventy people are assigned to work the fire today, along with 14 fire engines, three dozers and five water tenders, according to a spokesperson for its incident command team.

A fact sheet issued this morning from Public Information Officer Connie Birkland lists the fire as “human caused, under investigation”. But Birkland said they still don’t know what sparked the blaze on Sunday.

“We’re just making that statement,” Birkland said. “We just know there was no lightning at the time, no obvious evidence (like something from a power line); so we’re assuming it’s human caused.”

Birkland said they have no specific information about what did cause the fire. DNR investigators are responsible for finding that out, she said.

The fire scene is on a relatively flat ridge top south of Gish Road.

Birkland said they initially reported it was 103 acres, but revised that down after the individual who measured it said it was really closer to 102 acres.

Crews continue to mop up hot spots within the fire perimeter. Fire is minimal and continues to smolder in stumps and root system.

No new fire growth is expected, a relatively thin fire line was established early on.

They’re expecting slightly cooler weather with a chance of minimal rain and possibly lightning, Birkland said.

“We’re also being told it would take quite a bit of rain to make any difference for the fire,” she said.
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For background, read “Gish Road Fire: Smoldering and smoking could continue for weeks” from Tuesday August 11, 2015, here

Personnel continue work to extinguish hot spots south of Gish Road. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 1

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS –  The Onalaska wildfire that broke out on Sunday and spread rapidly to more than 100 acres is smoldering, something that could continue for quite some time, according to officials.

Still approximately 100 firefighters with the state Department of Natural Resources are working at the scene, Public Information Officer Connie Birkland said last night.

The blaze burned what authorities initially described as a young plantation of Douglas fir and alder on private property south of the 300 block of GIsh Road, roughly five miles east of Interstate 5.

An early evacuation advisory was issued for residents in the vicinity on Sunday afternoon, but rescinded that evening. Aerial drops of retardant from jet planes were used to protect homes along the northern perimeter and also to slow the flames from spreading to the east.

“At this point, there are no structures we’re worried about,” Birkland said.

As of last night, the fire was considered 20 percent contained, meaning a sufficiently wide and extinguished strip of ground that circles the fire is only 20 percent finished.  They’ve got engines with hoses laid around the perimeter.

Crews are continuing the hard work of what they call mop up, according to Birkland.

“There’s a lot of hot, underground roots and stumps still burning,” she said, “You’re not seeing a lot of flames, you see smoke.”

No injuries have been reported or any structures burned. The cause remains under investigation.

Chief Gregg Peterson, of Newaukum Valley Fire and Rescue in Napavine, who along with Lewis County Fire District 8 Chief Duran McDaniel of Salkum assisted the local fire departments’ response on Sunday said his “first-in” person pointed out yesterday morning to the investigator the spot where the fire originated .

But there weren’t other obvious clues to share about what may have started the fire, according to Peterson.

“Our people didn’t see anyone or make contact with anyone, as far as I know,” he said of the initial response.

DNR has not yet said who owns the parcels involved.

Birkland said she may have miscommunicated somewhat about the nature of the properties involved. The land holds not so much tree farms as what they call regeneration – young growth of new trees – following previous logging, she said.

Peterson said acreage-wise, it was as big of a fire as he’s ever seen in Lewis County. Chief Mike Kytta, a nearly 40-year veteran of firefighting from Centralia, said the same, according to Peterson.

McDaniel, who started firefighting as a 16-year-old said the largest he knew of was in the summer of 1983 when a fire off Winston Creek Road at Longbell Road burned 247 acres. He recalled a good-sized fire on Dodge Road out of Morton in the 1990s, but said he didn’t know its size.

The Gish Road Fire has been measured at 103 acres.

“In the last 30 years, (this) was the biggest one we’ve had, as far as I know, that was anywhere near homes,” McDaniel said.

Watching a low-flying jet drop fire retardant across the area was a rare sight, and a first for McDaniel.

“When I went to fire school, they said you’ll never see this in Western Washington,” he said.

It was just about exactly a year ago that a roughly 60-acre forest fire burned beyond Teague Road, west of Centralia. Chuck Turley, assistant manager of the Pacific Cascade Region of the state Department of Natural Resources said DNR used a plane to drop fire retardant there.

How long until the Gish Road fire is out, or how long crews will be working on it isn’t something Birkland  could easily answer.

“Even though it’s confined inside the fire perimeter right now, it can go on for weeks,” she said.
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For background, read “Tree farm property burning in Onalaska” from Monday August 10, 2015, here

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Property south of Gish Road smokes and smolders today. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 1

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The first air drop of fire retardant onto parcels near Gish Road on Sunday. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 1

Not even small backyard campfires are allowed until further notice in the cities of Centralia, Chehalis and unincorporated Lewis County, as of yesterday and today. / Courtesy photo by Rhonda Volk

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Just put the marshmallow roasting sticks away for the summer.

Outdoor recreational and cooking fires are prohibited within the city limits of both Centralia and Chehalis until further notice.

Both cities made announcements yesterday afternoon, one day after a similar ban was issued for unincorporated areas of Lewis County.

Ken Cardinale

Officials are citing a high fire hazard due to the extremely parched environment.

Chehalis Fire Department Chief Ken Cardinale put it this way:

“As the Chehalis fire chief, I cannot stress enough the seriousness of the fire danger that presently exists,” Cardinale stated. “The continued dry conditions, very low fuel moistures and dry weather pattern we have been experiencing are contributing to the high fire danger.”

Brush fires have broken out, but area firefighters have been quick to keep them from burning down buildings. The dry season began earlier than usual this year, meaning vegetation is more susceptible to ignition.

The restrictions apply on both private property and public property, such as city parks.

Centralia’s went into effect at 12:01 a.m. today. Residents there are still allowed to use above ground barbecues with contained flame.

Chehalis’s is in effect now. Citizens there are permitted the use of propane or charcoal barbecues that are self contained with lids. Also, outdoor fireplaces equipped with an approved spark arrestor installed on the flue are okay, according to the city.

All three entities strongly urge residents and property owners to be attentive to the dangers and take proactive fire prevention measures.

Cardinale refers folks to the Chehalis Fire Department’s website, where information can be found on what those in the fire service refer to as creating “defensible space” around your home.

It’s a good time for some yard work, pruning, trimming and cleaning up if it hasn’t already been done.

The new fire chief also suggests anyone with questions ought to give them a call, or stop by the station.

A brush fire that broke out on Tuesday off Centralia-Alpha Road southeast of Chehalis grew to 18 acres and as of yesterday, still had more than 70 firefighters and support personnel from the state Department of Natural Resources working to extinguish hot spots.

Steve Mansfield, who oversees the Lewis County Department of Emergency Management, visited the scene yesterday morning and indicated DNR planned to remain there through the weekend to ensure it didn’t reignite or spread.

“Until this drought is over and the threat of fire is significantly diminished, be physically aware of safety around any open flames or activity that could cause an ignition of materials,” Mansfield stated.

Recent fires in Lewis and south Thurston counties have had suspected causes from such ordinary activities as lawn mowing with the blade catching a rock, haying with a tractor driving over a “wind row”, and a worn extension cord to a parked motorhome starting a grass fire.

The former sheriff noted none of us can control the weather conditions, but there are a number of steps individuals can take to reduce the risks. Basic precautions:

• Don’t throw lit materials and cigarettes out of your vehicle.
• Find alternatives to outdoor campfires and cooking.
• Refrain from driving in areas of tall grass and fields
• When operating equipment, watch for anything that can cause a spark.
• Have a fire extinguisher handy when working outdoors near sources of ignition.
• Listen to local media regarding local fire conditions and hazards
• Be proactive, the property and lives you save may be your own.

Courtesy photo by U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Three Lewis County timber cutters and a Winlock mill owner have been indicted on theft and other federal crimes in a case involving illegal harvest and selling of Big Leaf Maple, the wood from which is particularly valuable for musical instruments.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced yesterday Harold Clause Kupers, 48, owner of  J & L Tonewoods, allegedly purchased the maple knowing it was stolen and then sold it to out of state companies for more than $800,000.

The tree cutters allegedly took the specialty wood from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

“The trees in our national forests belong to all Americans and should not be chopped up to enrich a few,” U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes stated. “In this case a beautiful and valued resource that is home to endangered species, was felled with some parts just discarded on the forest floor.”

Charged with theft of and damaging of government property are Ryan Justice, 28, of Randle, James Miller, 36, of Morton, and Kevin Mullins, 56, of Packwood, according to authorities.

Kupers is accused of giving training and assistance to the trio on how to retrieve the wood from various sites in the forest. The men would seek out “figured maple” which is especially valuable for musical instruments, according to Hayes.

According to the indictment, between October 2011 and March 2012 the tree cutters made approximately fifty sales of illegally-harvested maple wood to Kupers for his Winlock lumber mill. They allegedly would deliver pieces of the trees to J& L Tonewoods, where it was cut into salable blocks called “billets.”

Kupers is charged with receipt of stolen property and seven violations of the Lacey Act, which prohibits trafficking in illegal wildlife, fish, and plants.

Justice and Miller are in custody pending detention hearings. Mullins has not yet made his initial appearance on the indictment.

Violations of the Lacey Act are punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The other charges in the indictment are punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case is being investigated by the U.S. Forest Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth Wilkinson.

Two helicopters drop water as dozens of firefighters on the ground work to stop a fire off Centralia-Alpha Road. / Courtesy photo by Lori Nelsen

Updated at 12:43 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A fire of unknown origin broke out southeast of Chehalis yesterday, growing to approximately 12 acres as it consumed brush and trees.

“The fire is knocked down, there’s not active fire now,” Chuck Turley, assistant manager of the Pacific Cascade Region of the state Department of Natural Resources said this morning. “We’re trying to keep it that way.”

Local firefighters called around 3 p.m. yesterday to the area roughly a half mile north of the intersection of Centralia-Alpha Road and North Fork Road headed towards a large smoke column and found a fairly large brush fire, Lewis County Fire District 6 Chief Tim Kinder said.

“We concentrated on a small farm at risk of being taken down,” Kinder said.

Crews from rural Chehalis, Napavine and Onalaska protected the small house until personnel from DNR arrived, he said.

DNR put into service more than 40 firefighters, a bulldozer and two helicopters which dropped water on the flames. A helicopter is on standby this morning.

The wind was swirling up above and constantly changing directions, Kinder said. “And it was a lot of heavy, thick brush.”

The active fire was knocked down last night and the last tender crew from Lewis County Fire District 6 was released about 7 o’clock this morning. Crews with two tenders from Newaukum Valley Fire and Rescue were on the scene this morning, Kinder said.

Turley said they’ve dug a line around all but about 300 feet and consider it 60 percent contained this morning.

Fueling the blaze was standing timber as well as relatively newly planted trees, he said, with lots of blackberries and lots of salal.

It’s the third time in a week fire has sprung up on the property. Turley said his crews were out there last Tuesday and Wednesday.

“All I’ll say about that is the cause is under investigation,” he said.

Approximately 50 DNR personnel are working out there today, he said.

Turley said the lower temperatures and that the relative humidity came up overnight were helpful.

He’s expecting a four to five day reprieve with the weather and then on Tuesday it’s forecast to get very hot again, he said.

Turley said he’s not sure how much longer they will be out there.

“I would imagine it will take more than just today to get it completely controlled,” he said.

It was just last Friday when the Commissioner of Public Lands urged the public to take the utmost care not to spark fires, citing a combination of worsening conditions and the probability of multiple large fires by mid-week.

Seven active large fires are burning in the state currently, including one that broke out about 1 p.m. yesterday in Klickitat County and is already approximately 10,000 acres, according to authorities. That blaze, near the town of Roosevelt in south Central Washington called the Highway 8 Fire, is threatening 350 homes and evacuation orders have been put in place.

Several local firefighters departed yesterday evening to help out, including two from Newaukum Valley Fire and Rescue, three from West Thurston Regional Fire Authority and two from Thurston County Fire District 12.