Lewis County Sirens.com

Harrison Avenue was closed for about half an hour this morning when fire broke out at the back of Handy Mart. / Courtesy photo by Teri Wiley

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Centralia’s fire department extinguished fires today at a saw mill and a convenience store.

Firefighters called just after 5 o’clock this morning to Sierra Pacific at the 3100 block of Kuper Road found employees using hoses on the fire, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

The fire was in one of the chip bunkers – a storage area containing multiple augers and conveyor belts that deal with saw dust or wood chips, according to Fire Capt. Casey McCarthy.

Crews worked the scene for about two hours and were able to contain it to the bunker of origin, according to McCarthy. They were joined by members of the Chehalis Fire Department and West Thurston Regional Fire Authority.

The three departments met up again when they began getting reports about 9:15 a.m. of heavy smoke coming from the Handy Mart store on the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue.

They arrived to find the business was evacuated and found fire in the attached storage area at the back of the building, according to McCarthy.

They were able to keep the fire from spreading to the store itself, the captain stated in a brief summary of the incident.

All lanes of Harrison Avenue were closed for approximately 30 minutes while fire crews worked on scene.

McCarthy described the damage in both cases as moderate. The causes of both fires are under investigation.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Washington State Supreme Court has decided four lawsuits arising from widespread flooding of the Chehalis River in December 2007 in Lewis County don’t have to be handled in Lewis County Superior Court, but may be dealt with in King County.

The petitioners had filed separate suits in King County Superior Court asserting that poor forestry practices made the land unstable during the heavy rains, allowed landslides to form and then debris to flow into the river; which in turn displaced river water and caused damage to their properties.

The respondents are Weyerhaeuser Company, Green Diamond Resource Company and the state Department of Natural Resources.

It’s the second time the state Supreme Court has considered questions related to the appropriate forum for the cases. After the first time they remanded for further proceedings, the respondents promptly moved to transfer venue to Lewis County and the move was granted.

The nine justices unanimously agreed in their opinion issued on Thursday. Justice Mary I. Yu wrote the law did not provide for exclusive proper venue in Lewis County, but that King County is another possible proper place to hear the cases.

The petitioners are William Ralph, William Forth, Guy Bauman, Eileen Bauman, Linda Stanley, Rochelle Stanley, Donald LeMaster, David Givens, Virginia Carey, Jamie Carey and Paradyce Industries Inc.

Weyerhaeuser  and Green Diamond are headquartered in King County.
•••

In the Supreme Court of the state of Washington: No. 91711-6 – Ralph v. Weyerhaeuser  Co., here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 31-year-old man is dead after he reportedly skied outside the boundaries at the White Pass Ski Resort and encountered avalanche-type activity.

The ski patrol requested a deputy just after 6 p.m. yesterday and reported they had removed the deceased individual and were enroute with him to the ski lodge, which would take about an hour, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said the man lives in the Randle area, but his name is not being released.

Breen said the incident is under investigation.

Two-story house on Fuller Road is surrounded by yellow tape after blaze on Christmas Eve Day. / Courtesy photo by Derrick Paul

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The cause of a fire that destroyed a large, old two-story farmhouse on Saturday in Salkum remains under investigation.

Firefighters called about 10:45 a.m. to the 200 block of Fuller Road found the wood frame structure fully involved in flames, with a large hole already burned through its roof, according to Lewis County Fire District 8.

There were vehicles parked in the driveway, but after two thorough searches of the interior, they concluded nobody was there, Fire Chief Duran McDaniel said.

McDaniel said it’s probably one of the oldest homes in the valley, constructed around the turn of the century.

Nearly 20 firefighters from two districts battled the blaze, hauling about 20,000 gallons of water, McDaniel said.

They stopped the spread before it consumed an attached shed, he said.

McDaniel said he’s not sure who was living there, but understands a sheriff’s deputy, who was first on the scene, later interviewed the gentleman who resided there.

A crew was on scene until 3:15 p.m., according to McDaniel.

A fire investigator was there a few hours on Saturday and plans to return this week.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – One person died at the scene and another was hospitalized after a single-vehicle wreck last night on state Route 508 near Forest-Napavine Road.

Troopers and aid were called about 8:40 p.m. to the wreck with entrapment south of Chehalis. The Honda Accord had been westbound, left the roadway to the right and struck a tree, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The passenger, Thomas D. Lininger, 43, of Chehalis died at the scene, according to the state patrol.

The driver, Kimberly J. McPherson, 51, from Centralia, was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital because no air transport was available due of the weather, according to responders.

Both had been wearing seat belts, the state patrol reports.

The state patrol is investigating the collision but indicates drugs or alcohol were believed to be involved.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Firefighters were called about 5:20 a.m. today for a structure fire near the Chevron gas station in Packwood.

It’s a manufactured home just off the 12900 block of U.S. Highway 12, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

“At this point we’re not sure if anyone was in the residence or not,” sheriff’s Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said this morning.

A fire investigator was called to the scene and the sheriff’s office expects to have someone on hand once things cool off, Breen said.