Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Investigators have found the Dog Mountain wildfire that scorched about 200 acres in early May was caused by an exploding target used by someone.

Who that someone is, they don’t yet know, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

The blaze that began on private timberland owned by Port Blakley was fought by about 100 firefighters and two helicopters. Dog Mountain south of Glenoma at the east end of Riffe Lake is a widely-used favorite spot for hang gliders.

DNR spokesperson Janet Pearce said target shooters use the devices which can be purchased commercially or homemade to identify if they’ve hit their mark. But they are prohibited on land protected by DNR, she said.

Pearce said an individual determined to have caused a wildfire can be liable for the cost of suppressing it. She didn’t yet know the total spent on the Dog Mountain fire.

“It can be a pretty extensive payback,” she said.

Officials who manage forest lands are asking for extra caution this holiday weekend, citing the risks of fireworks, campfires and other activities during wildfire-friendly conditions.

Fireworks are prohibited in National Forests and on state-protected public and private lands.
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For background, read “Breaking news: Large brush fire burning south of Glenoma” on Saturday May 4, 2013, here

See the rules for target shooting on DNR managed lands, here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

With temperatures expected in the low 90s today, both Centralia City Hall and Lewis County Fire District 6 have opened up their doors for members of the public to come in, hang out and cool down.

Water will be available too.

The “cooling station” at Centralia City Hall at 118 W. Maple Street is set to be open until 5 p.m.

Folks can also go to District 6’s main station at 2123 Jackson Highway, until about 4:30 p.m., Firefighter Kyle Eiswald said.

In Salkum and Cinebar, the fire stations will be open today as well. Lewis County Fire District 8 Chief Duran McDaniel said the doors will be open in Cinebar at 110 Justus Road until around 5 p.m., and the main station at 2490 U.S. Highway 12 will be open until as late as 8 p.m.

The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory, in effect until 11 p.m., recommending all drink plenty of water and that those who work or spend time outside may want to reschedule strenuous outdoor activities for the cooler parts of the day.

District 6 shares words of wisdom from emergency authorities on how to deal with the heat, here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Lint built up in a dryer is blamed for a house fire last night in Chehalis.

Crews called at 9:45 p.m. to the home on the 300 block of Cascade Avenue found smoke coming from the basement and first floor windows of the home, according to the Chehalis Fire Department. The couple had gotten outside, according to Fire Capt. Ted McCarty.

The fire damage was limited to the basement but there was smoke damage throughout the house, McCarty said. Nobody was hurt.

Firefighters remained on the scene for about four hours, conducting salvage, overhaul and investigation activated, according to Chief Jim Walkowski.

The cause was found to be an accumulation of lint in the dryer, which was in operation at the time, according to Walkowski.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A statewide burn ban starts on Monday and runs through September on  all forestland and other property that is protected by the state Department of Natural Resources.

Exceptions include recreational use in approved fire pits in designated campgrounds, according to a news release from DNR.

“The threat of wildfires from escaped outdoor burning is highest during the hot and dry days of summer,” Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark stated. “Wildfires are serious threats to public safety, private property and wildlife habitat. We must take prudent steps to prevent wildfires and minimize the large expenditures of public resources spent to fight them.”

Already this year, 57 wildfires have started from escaped outdoor burn piles, according to the state agency.

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Get more information from Department of Natural Resources

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Lewis County Fire District 8 will be burning down a house tomorrow in the Onalaska area, as they practice fighting fire.

The training at the 200 block of Gore Road will begin at 8 a.m. and last until 3 p.m., according to Chief Duran McDaniel.

Joining them will be personnel from fire districts in Mossyrock and Onalaska, according to McDaniel.

It will happen again on Thursday evening beginning at 7 p.m. with a second house, at the 2300 block of U.S. Highway 12 in Salkum. McDaniel said that should last about four hours.

Both houses, built in the 1930s, were donated to the fire department, he said.