Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

An overnight fire in Toledo destroyed a commercial structure owned by one of it’s own volunteer firefighters, according to Chief Grant Wiltbank.

Firefighters were called around 12:30 a.m. to the building on Ramsey Way, next door to the historic buildings that burned on Christmas Day, Wiltbank said.

The chief wasn’t on the scene, but said it was his understanding the building was fully involved in flames when crews arrived. They fought it defensively, meaning they worked simply to keep adjacent structures from catching fire, he said.

One engine remained on the scene this morning, he said.

The business was like a liquidator, he said, and among the items the building contained were like 200 doors, he said.

There’s not word yet as to the cause, he said.

King5.com has video footage of the blaze. See it here

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – An outdoor burn ban went into effect in Lewis County at 12:01 a.m. today.

Dry conditions have created what the Lewis County fire marshall calls substantial fire danger throughout the county.

Still allowed are recreational fires in approved campfire sites or approved receptacles, according to the fire marshal. Those with questions can call Fire Marshal Fred Chapman at 360-740-1146.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A Winlock man escaped with a bruise on the arm but his car was totaled when a semi truck changing lanes on Interstate 5 hit him overnight.

Harry B. Allen, 61, was southbound near Chehalis’s Main Street interchange as was a 2005 Peterbilt tractor-trailer, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Allen’s 2006 Ford Fusion rotated off the front of the truck and hit the median facing backward, according to the state patrol.

A trooper called to the scene at 2:35 a.m. cited the Twin Falls, Idaho truck driver for an unsafe lane change, the state patrol reported.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Chehalis police are investigating the apparent gunshot death of a 59-year-old woman in Chehalis on Friday.

Police were called about 3 p.m. to her apartment on the 400 block in between Market Boulevard and Pacific Avenue, according to detective Sgt. Rick McNamara.

She was found by her husband and as far as he knows, there were no witnesses, McNamara said. A handgun was found as well, he said.

An autopsy is being conducted today, he said.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

An Onalaska man was jailed after his vehicle carrying four children wrecked near Riffe Lake yesterday evening, ejecting one of the youngsters.

Troopers and aid were called just before 6 p.m. to the single-vehicle collision on Swofford Road about a mile east of Mossyrock, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The driver, Fano P. Tofaeono, 30, of Onalaska, a 25-year-old female passenger and her three children sustained little or no injury, but a 10-year-old boy was taken to Morton General Hospital, according to responders.

The boy had multiple lacerations to his lower legs, requiring stitches, according to the state patrol.

Tofaeono was traveling northbound on Swofford Road when his vehicle left the roadway to the right and came to rest nose-down in the ditch, according to the investigating trooper.

Two of the children were not seat belted – the one who fell out was riding in the rear cargo area of the Toyota Forerunner, according to the state patrol. The vehicle was described as totaled.

Passenger Antonia R. Leal, 25, and her girls – ages 6, 3, and 1 – are also from Onalaska, according to the state patrol.

The 10-year-old boy, also from Onalaska, is a relative of Leal’s, according to Lewis County Fire District 3.

The state patrol concluded that drugs or alcohol were involved., but did not elaborate.

Tofaeono was arrested for vehicular assault and booked into the Lewis County Jail.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Law enforcement is trying to match up suspected stolen property with victims of thefts with an open house today and tomorrow, held jointly by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office and Lacey Police Department.

Those who have been victims of burglaries, thefts, vehicle prowls and similar incidents, and have reported the crimes to law enforcement, are encouraged to come and attempt to identify their valuables, according to a news release from the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.

The property recovered on June 24 during a joint burglary investigation includes collectibles and antiques of various types, household items, lawn and garden tools, appliances, mechanical tools, home electronics and more, according to the sheriff’s office.

The location of the open house is 3400 Mottman Road S.W. The hours are from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A driver who said he got dirt in his eyes crashed into a utility pole on Highway 6 yesterday near Chehalis, knocking down multiple power lines before his pickup truck caught on fire.

Joshua A. Friedley, 28, of Centralia, was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital with what were described as bumps and bruises. He is in good condition this morning, according to a hospital spokesperson.

It happened about 6:30 p.m. about a half mile west of Interstate 5.

Electricity was knocked out to all of Adna and the Boistfort area for about four hours, according to Lewis County PUD.

According to the Washington State Patrol, Friedley was traveling eastbound when his vehicle left the roadway to the right, hit a ditch and the pole and rolled into an open field. He got out before the truck caught fire, according to responders.

Lewis County Fire District 6 was hampered by power lines across a metal fence, Firefighter Mike Goodwillie said. Members of the Chehalis Fire Department entered the area from a private drive on the other side and helped extinguish the fire, he said.

The 1995 Chevrolet pickup was destroyed, according to the state patrol.

Friedley was cited for “wheels off the roadway”, the state patrol reported.