Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Members of West Thurston Regional Fire Authority are assisting with water support this morning as firefighters with the state Department of Natural Resources mop up after a blaze in the Capitol Forest that grew to about three acres.

Crews were dispatched about 9:40 p.m. yesterday on reports a large fire could be seen from Rochester and Tumwater, according to Fire Chief Robert Scott.

“Crews arrived to find the fire located off the 8200 Road north of Capitol Peak near the Noshka area,” Scott stated in a news release. “The fire was initially one and a half acres in heavy logging slash and grew to approximately three acres before containment.”

Local firefighters worked the scene until the early morning hours and turned it over to DNR, according to Scott.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. There were no injuries reported.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Firefighters spent much of the day fighting with smoldering fires in a sawdust hopper and its funneling system at Shakertown in Winlock yesterday.

They were called to the cedar shake manufacturer at the 1200 block of Kerron Street about 10:45 a.m. and personnel were on the scene until 3:20 p.m., according to Lewis County Fire District 15.

They were assisted by fire departments from Toledo, Napavine and Vader, and eventually called for the ladder truck from the Chehalis Fire Department, according to Assistant Chief Kevin Anderson.

They had climbed the mill’s access ladder to hoist hand-lines to the top of the hopper, some 75-feet in the air, but were unable to achieve total extinguishment that way, according to Anderson.

Eventually the fires were put out and nobody was injured, but the business indicated it may shut down a portion of its operation for at least a month while they deal with cleanup and repairs, according to Anderson.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Thurston County Sheriff John Snaza is in critical condition this morning following a motorcycle accident in Montana.

Sheriff John Snaza

“Our TCSO family is obviously devastated by this event,” sheriff’s Lt. Tim Rudloff wrote in a news release. “Our thoughts and prayers are with our beloved sheriff for a full recovery.”

According to Rudloff, the single-vehicle collision occurred about 6 p.m. yesterday in Sanders County, Montana.

The sheriff sustained life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to a hospital in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, he stated.

Snaza was off duty when it happened. The accident is being investigated by the Montana State Patrol.

His medical status as of about 9:30 a.m. today was given as critical but stable, according to Rudloff.

Snaza was elected sheriff in 2010. He is the twin brother of Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza.

Flames spread quickly to the trees behind Rhobina Street house. / Image by Tyler Ferguson

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Authorities believe fireworks ignited a blaze in a north Centralia neighborhood that spread fast through a yard and burned up three fir trees yesterday.

“The fire was extinguished before it was able to spread to forested land that border the backside of the property,” Riverside Fire Authority Capt. Scott Weinert stated in a news release.

Police and fire crews responded to the approximately 1:50 p.m. 911 call to the 1300 block of Rhobina Street, according to Weinert.

Nobody was hurt and the adjacent homes were unaffected, although there was some minor damage to a house across the street which is being demolished, Weinert indicated.

Residents reported hearing fireworks exploding and a car leaving the area before the flames were discovered, according to the captain.

The fire is being investigated.

A fire weather watch was issued last week and again yesterday by the National Weather Service because of potential critical fire weather conditions.

The combination of low relative humidity and wind means fires could ignite more easily and spread more quickly, according to the weather service.

Another round of very warm temperatures is expected in the area tomorrow and Friday.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Five people were injured when a horse got spooked and took off running down the midway, pulling an unoccupied carriage, at the Southwest Washington Fair today.

“I don’t have conditions on anyone,” Lewis County Risk Manager Paulette Young said this afternoon.

The vendor with the horse and buggy was at the fair to give rides to people, according to Young.

Four of those hurt were hospitalized, she said. Young said she had limited information.

The individuals involved would have been at or around the food booth area, she said.

The fair which opened on Tuesday is operated by Lewis County.