Lewis County Sirens.com

The intersection of Borthwick Street and Marsh Avenue in Centralia. / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Responders found the driver unconscious after a sport utility vehicle ran into the side of a house in Centralia yesterday afternoon and police say she passed away at the hospital.

The residence was unoccupied at the time and a young boy in the vehicle was uninjured, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

Police called at 3:56 p.m. to the scene at the intersection of Borthwick Street and Marsh Avenue report the vehicle was said to have struck the house at a high rate of speed after leaving the roadway after the driver may have suffered a medical event.

The first arriving emergency medical service units began CPR on the female driver and she was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital in critical condition, according to Fire Capt. Terry Ternan.

Ternan indicated the structure damage to the home left it unsafe to occupy.

The Washington State Patrol responded as well and the collision is under investigation. The cause of death is unknown as of this morning, according to the Centralia Police Department.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Coroner’s Office says it was Robert Becker who died during a tree clearing operation on Monday morning west of Napavine.

Becker, 63, of Chehalis, and his 68-year-old brother had been using a tree processor on the 800 block of Pleasant Valley Road when a tree fell in an unexpected trajectory, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said Becker tried to outrun the falling tree but was unable to do so and sustained severe injuries.

The sheriff’s office is conducting a death investigation.
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For background, read “Chehalis resident killed when tree falling task goes wrong” from Tuesday July 18, 2017, here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The results of post-mortem tests were inconclusive as to the cause of death for Chehalis’s police dog.

The Chehalis Police Department received the reports yesterday from the Chehalis Centralia Veterinary Hospital and Washington State University’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

Reign
Oct. 24, 2011 – June 27, 2017

K-9 Reign died suddenly and unexpectedly during routine training while on duty on June 27. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. He was taken to WSU for a necropsy.

The police department shared excerpts this morning from the reports that indicate causes for acute death in dogs under such circumstances as Reign’s include fatal arrhythmia, metabolic disturbances and certain toxins.

Department spokesperson Linda Bailey said it boiled down to basically, they just don’t know.

Reign and his partner Officer Warren Ayers had been practicing locating articles and persons that night, and it was, to her understanding, not a particularly strenuous or taxing activity, Bailey said.

While toxins was included as a potential issue, the report stated the length of time between the reported potential inhalation event was too prolonged to be considered a likely cause of the death.

The 5-year-old dog worked at both tracking and finding people, things and drugs. He had been on a call with the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team earlier in the evening on the date of his death, according to Bailey.

Bailey said she didn’t know anything further except that he had been doing a “sniff”.

Reign was 19-months-old when he was put into active duty in May 2013. Ayers introduced him to the city council as a German Shepherd and Malinois mix from the Czech Republic.

A public memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. on July 25 at  W.F. West High School in Chehalis.
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For background, read “News brief: Memorial service announced for Chehalis K-9” from Friday July 14, 2017, here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 63-year-old Chehalis area man is dead after an accident during a tree clearing operation west of Napavine yesterday morning.

Multiple firefighters, EMTs and medics responded to the call just before 9 a.m. to residential property on the 800 block of Pleasant Valley Road.

The now-deceased man and his 68-year-old brother had been using a tree processor when a tree fell in an unexpected trajectory, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

“The victim tried to outrun the falling tree but was unable to do so,” sheriff’s Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said this morning.

The older brother said he cleared away the tree debris and began CPR which he continued until aid arrived, Breen said. The younger brother sustained severe injuries to his head and chest, Breen said.

Breen said both men are experienced loggers, but were doing the work on their own property.

The sheriff’s office is conducting a death investigation.

Updated at 12:18 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – One person was critically injured when a car and motorcycle collided yesterday evening west of Centralia.

Firefighters called about 6 p.m. to the 600 block of Lincoln Creek Road report the male patient was transported by medical helicopter to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

The Washington State Patrol and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office responded as well, according to Fire Capt. Casey McCarthy.

Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said a 16-year-old Rochester girl was eastbound in a 2003 BMW 530 and began to make a left turn into a driveway when the westbound motorcycle hit her car, flipping its driver over the vehicle.

The 26-year-old Centralia man sustained major injuries to his head area leaving him unconscious, Breen said.

He was driving a 2002 Honda XL400. Her car had major front-end damage, according to the sheriff’s office.

As of 8 p.m., both lanes remained closed for the investigation, according to McCarthy.

Breen said this morning no criminal charges or citations have been issued at this point as the collision is still under investigation.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Make sure you’re finished with any outdoor brush pile burning when the clock strikes midnight tonight.

Restrictions will go into place for outdoor burning in unincorporated Lewis County because of potential fire danger beginning at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow.

The Lewis County fire marshal, Lewis County Community Development director and Board of (Lewis) County Commissioners made the decision after careful review of the current and extended weather forecast

Lewis County Community Development Director Lee Napier indicates in a press release today that conditions have created substantial fire dangers.

The action means any current open burning permit expires at midnight, according to Napier.

Still allowed however are recreational campfires in designated campgrounds or in fire pits on private property that meet specific criteria.

The county’s restrictions will remain in effect until lifted by the Board of County Commissioners.

For further information concerning outdoor burning, Fire Marshal Doyle Sanford can be reached at 360-740-2696. The fire marshal’s office is in the Lewis County Public Services building, located at 2025 NE Kresky Avenue in Chehalis.

Smoke rises from fire on West Reynolds Avenue. / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Nobody was injured but a Centralia home is now uninhabitable after a fire broke out last night.

Firefighters called at 7:52 p.m. to the 1100 block of West Reynolds Avenue saw heavy involvement on the cedar shake roof, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

Crews were joined by members of the Chehalis Fire Department, Lewis County Fire District 6 and West Thurston Regional Fire Authority.

The fire was extinguished and mop up ongoing at 11 p.m., according to Fire Lt. Mark Stahl.

The house was heavily damaged, according to Stahl. The cause is being investigated.