Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – With rain and cooler temperatures easing fire danger across Washington, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources is lifting restrictions on recreational campfires.

Effective 12:01 a.m. today, campfires will be allowed in approved fire pits in designated campgrounds on Washington lands protected by DNR.

Because forests and rangelands remain dry from the summer’s low precipitation totals, other forms of outdoor burning, such as debris burning, remain prohibited under the burn ban ordered by Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz.

“We’re thankful to have rain help wet our landscapes, but as we saw with a quick-moving fire east of Ellensburg Sunday evening, we’re not out of fire season quite yet,” Franz stated in a press release. “I urge everyone to check with their local authorities before lighting campfires.”

Earlier this month, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest announced it was banning not only campfires, but also smoking throughout the forest until there is significant moisture to lower the fire danger.

Lewis County enacted a total outdoor burn ban at the beginning of August, which it plans to keep in place until further notice.

The prohibition on campfires is still in effect, and local fire departments are awaiting a decision from area fire chiefs as to when it might be lifted, Lewis County Fire District 5 Lt. Laura Hanson said today.

Lewis County Fire District 8 Chief Duran McDaniel said yesterday that even though we’ve gotten some rain, local officials won’t make a change until they determine it’s safe to do so.

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By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS –  Firefighters from IAFF Locals 451 and 2510 will be collecting donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association through the annual “Fill the Boot” campaign at two different locations in the Twin Cities this weekend.

They can be found today between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the intersection of Belmont Avenue and Haviland Street near the Centralia Outlet’s mall in Centralia.

The campaign is sponsored jointly by International Association of Fire Fighters Local 451, which represents firefighters from Riverside Fire Authority and Lewis County Fire District Six and IAFF 2510, which represents the city of Chehalis firefighters.

The MDA is a voluntary health agency founded in 1950 to fight 43 neuromuscular diseases, including ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, which affect millions of Americans.

Tomorrow, also between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., the firefighters can be found  in the parking lot of the Chehalis Starbucks at 1531 Northwest Louisiana Avenue in Chehalis.

Flames and smoke rise off Harrison Avenue. / Courtesy photo by Isaac Alexander

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A Centralia residence was heavily damaged by fire overnight and while nobody was home at the time, the occupants are displaced, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

Firefighters called about 1 .m. to the 3300 block of Harrison Avenue extinguished fire on the porch and then entered through a back door to continue putting the fire out, according to Fire Capt. Scott Weinert.

A search of the interior confirmed nobody was inside, according to Weinert.

The fire captain estimates the loss of the home at $60,000 and then another $25,000 for its contents. He described it as a single-wide mobile home with wood siding.

The cause is under investigation.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The preliminary area of focus is electrical for an investigation of a fire that broke out last night in a Winlock area barn, according to Lewis County Fire District 15.

Crews were called about 8:30 p.m. to the 200 block of Sargent Road where a homeowner had been scrambling to save what he could from a small barn used for hay and other storage, according to Assistant Chief Kevin Anderson.

The fire there was described as fully involved, threatening two larger buildings and spreading to vegetation, Anderson said.

An engine from District 15 and a second engine from DIstrict 5 arrived simultaneously, within seven minutes of dispatch. They were joined by personnel from District 2 and also Cowlitz-Lewis 20, for a total of about 25 firefighters.

“The guys did a great job of showing up pretty quick,” Anderson said.

The home owner was treated at the scene for a breathing-related issue.

Anderson said the second building was a larger barn containing fire wood and farm equipment and is still standing, but will likely be a total loss.

The largest structure, a shop which held the highest value of contents, sustained exterior damage only, he said.

Anderson said the area around the buildings was short cut grass, so the spread into any other vegetation was slowed.

Personnel were on the scene for the better part of three hours, he said.

Earlier in the day, farther north in Lewis County, firefighters extinguished a brush fire on Nix Lane outside of Centralia.

A crew dispatched at 3:24 p.m. found an approximately 150 foot by 50 foot brush fire with flames moving towards nearby structures, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

They were able to contain the fire to the original area and put it out, according to RFA.

Fire Lt. Jesse Berry reports several nearby electrical meter bases were damaged.

The scene was turned over to the state Department of Natural Resources and the fire’s cause is under investigation.

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Nix Lane, Centralia. / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – An 18-year-old bicyclist was airlifted after a collision yesterday involving a sport utility vehicle on a county road northeast of Winlock.

Deputies dispatched about 11:55 a.m. to the 600 block of Park Road report the Winlock resident appeared to have a broken leg and other injuries, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

He was flown to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver where he remains in stable condition, according to the sheriff’s office.

The vehicle involved was not at the scene when deputies arrived and the sheriff’s office is seeking the public’s help in locating it.

The “vehicle of interest” is described as an older green SUV, similar to a Ford Explorer, according to Chief Deputy Dusty Breen.

Breen asks anyone with information on the incident or the vehicle to contact he Lewis County Sheriff’s Office at 360-748-9286, or Lewis County Communications at 360-740-1105.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 56-year-old man is jailed after allegedly stabbing someone visiting him and his significant other in Silver Creek last night.

Deputies called just after 9 p.m. to the 100 block of Huntting Road learned there was no dispute or fight beforehand, but that Claude E. Royals became offended by the actions of his visitor and stabbed him in the chest area, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

The victim, a 43-year-old Lacey man, was taken to Morton General Hospital by the significant other, where was stabilized and then flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, sheriff’s Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said.

Royals was arrested for first-degree assault and booked into the Lewis County Jail, Breen said. He is tentatively scheduled to go before a judge this afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court.

The victim’s condition as of this morning was stable, according to Breen.