Lewis County Sirens.com

Interstate 5 near Lewis-Thurston county line. / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The fire department reported two victims with minor injuries in a freeway collision that left a semi on its side with its trailer stuck on the center barrier this morning.

It happened about 9 a.m. in the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 north of Centralia.

Almost three hours later when the vehicles were cleared from the roadway, motorists were advised delays would continue because traffic was backed up for at least six miles.

According to the Washington State Patrol, the 55-year-old driver of a 2002 International box truck and trailer failed to slow for a Toyota RAV4 which had slowed for traffic.

They blamed driver inattention.

Craig M. Maxey, of Beaverton, Oregon, was cited for second-degree negligent driving, according to the state patrol. His truck was totaled.

The RAV4 which was struck in its rear, with Annette F. Rose, 55, of Stanwood, behind the wheel, was able to be driven away from the scene, the investigating trooper reports.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a death after a woman called 911 yesterday to report her kids returned home from a walk and said they’d found a man hanging near the railroad tracks in north Centralia.

Law enforcement responded to the approximately 5:15 p.m. call and were directed to a trestle over the Skookumchuck River south of Reynolds Avenue and east of Interstate 5, according to the sheriff’s office.

Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said there did not initially appear to be foul play involved. The deceased has been tentatively identified as a 58-year-old Centralia resident, Brown said.

He is not a person who had been listed as missing, she said.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – One of three suspects in a Chehalis home invasion robbery was arrested today, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

Back on the night of March 26, a 40-year-old woman called police to report three armed, masked men came in and demanded her valuables. She was unhurt, but they left with a Playstation, a 20-inch television, a DVR, a computer, two hard drives and a flash drive, according to police.

It happened at on Southwest 10th Street just  just off Market Boulevard.

Through investigation, a suspect was identified and an ‘Attempt to Locate” was issued for other police agencies, department spokesperson Linda Bailey said.

Earlier today, Jesse L. Harkcom was located by the Lacey Police Department and has been booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree robbery, according to Bailey. Harkcom, 34, is a Tumwater resident.

Two suspects remain outstanding.

Members of two fire departments chased flames along the freeway yesterday. / Courtesy photo by Washington State Patrol

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Multiple fires broke out along a two to three mile stretch adjacent to southbound Interstate 5 south of Napavine yesterday.

Members of Lewis County Fire Districts 15 and 5 were called out about 1:45 p.m.

The fires were quickly knocked down by the first responding units as they advanced down the roadway and then extinguished by secondary responding units, according to Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Anderson.

A single lane was blocked by the state Department of Transportation to allow a safe working area, Anderson said.

Washington State Patrol spokesperson Trooper Will Finn said the cause is unknown but one theory was a vehicle backfiring.

•

Firefighter extinguishes freeway brush fire. / Courtesy photo by Washington State Patrol

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A 13-year-old Centralia boy was seriously injured when he fell from the back of a pickup truck onto state Route 507 near Bucoda last night.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 8:06 p.m. at the 20100 block of the highway, just south of town, according to authorities.

“From my understanding, he was in the bed, and mom and grandma were hauling hay,” Trooper Shaneka Phillips said this morning. “He was very critical, at the time, he had life-threatening injuries.”

The boy, who is un-named, was transported to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Phillips said she didn’t know the child’s condition this morning.

The investigating trooper reports the 2010 Ford F150 pickup truck was southbound at a slow rate of speed when it happened.

Brenda L. Cleveland, 36, was driving and her passengers also included Debbie Morsbach, 57, and a 10-year-old boy, all from Centralia, according to the state patrol.

The cause is under investigation. Trooper Phillips said as of this morning, there was no reason to suspect any criminal or malicious behavior.

Looking north towards Gore Road chicken farm fire from Toledo area on Aug. 19, 2015. / Courtesy photo

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Each year, wildland fires consume homes built in or near lands prone to such fires.

But, there are actions residents can take to reduce the risk of becoming a victim.

The Lewis County Fire Chiefs Association is conducting town hall style meetings to share information with area residents about strategies to defend their property from the threat of wildfires.

The public is invited this Wednesday evening to the Baw Faw Grange in the Boistfort Valley for such a gathering.

Lewis County Fire District 13 Chief Gwen Turner says everyone is encouraged to show up.

“First 100 in attendance will be served a dinner provided by the Baw Faw Grange, Boistfort Emergency Assistance Group and Boistfort Firefighters Association,” Turner states.

The fire chiefs note studies show that as many as 80 percent of homes lost to wildland fire may have been saved if brush around the homes were cleared and defensible space created around structures.

Chehalis Fire Department Chief Ken Cardinale said last week’s meeting at the Lincoln Creek Grange went well. A similar presentation is scheduled for central Lewis County inhabitants in Salkum on June 18, according to Cardinale.

There is no better time than now to prepare and educate your family, friends and neighbors, according to Turner.

The Baw Faw Grange is located at 995 Boistfort Road. The meeting starts at 6 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The cause of the fire that destroyed a commercial building in Packwood was electrical in nature, according to fire investigator Jay Birley.

“He plugged his forklift in, they had a pretty big cable, and it faulted out,” Birley said this morning.

The approximately 50-foot by 60-foot metal-sided structure at the 11,800 block of U.S. Highway 12 belonged to a privately owned hydroelectric company, Birley said. Lewis County 911 Communications described it as near milepost 125, west of Packwood.

The fire broke out about 11 p.m. on Wednesday and burned the building to the ground, according to Birley.

Nobody was hurt but the contents lost included metal fabrication equipment, one large diesel-operated forklift and electric forklifts, he said.

The small hydroelectric plant at Burton Creek was purchased by Colorado investor Sam Perry about three years ago, according to a story in the Wall Street Journal.