Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Local search and rescue personnel assembled yesterday to retrieve a 62-year-old hiker perched on a small ledge after slipping and sliding at the Packwood Glacier.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office learned about the woman’s situation at about 12:30 p.m. and made preparations for the five-hour trek to the Pacific Crest Trail but then called for air support instead, given her precarious position, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

The woman had been hiking alone from Trout Lake headed to White Pass and used her satellite phone to call for help, Brown said. A distress beacon came from the area of Old Snowy Mountain, southeast of Packwood.

The woman used her backpack to prop herself and keep from falling farther downhill.

An Air Force helicopter was able to reach the victim and flew her to Yakima, where she planned to wait to be picked up, according to Brown. She was uninjured.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The city of Centralia is also implementing a prohibition on outdoor recreational fires, because of the fire danger.

The Riverside Fire Authority Fire Marshal, in coordination with the chiefs for local fire districts, strongly urge residents and property owners to be attentive to the conditions of their properties through proactive fire prevention measures.

The restriction in the city begins at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow, as does the same restriction in unincorporated Lewis County.

Still allowed however are liquid gas or propane camp stoves which have on/off controls and don’t utilize briquettes.

The change will remain in effect until rescinded by the city of Centralia.

For further information, contact Riverside Fire Authority at 36-330-9854.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Worsening dry season conditions have prompted a prohibition on all campfires in unincorporated Lewis County.

•••

With the arrival this week of the most dangerous fire weather of the year, the Lewis County Board of Commissioners and Lewis County fire marshal will expand the burn restrictions effective 12:01 tomorrow, according to Lee Napier, director of Lewis County Community Development.

Still allowed however are liquid gas or propane camp stoves which have on/off controls and don’t utilize briquettes.

For further information, Napier can be reached at 360-740-1146.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Centralia’s firefighters battled two brush fires yesterday, the first on land in the far northwest corner of the county and the second along railroad tracks off Reynolds Avenue.

Crews were called just after 11 a.m. to a wildfire in the area of Garrard Creek Road and Coyote Crest, where they found about a half acre burning, consisting of grasses, berry vines and scrub alder trees, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

No homes were threatened, according to Fire Chief Mike Kytta.

They were joined by members of Grays Harbor County Fire District 1 and kept the flames from spreading, according to Kytta. The scene was turned over to personnel from the state Department of Natural Resources for mop up and investigation.

Just after 4 p.m., a fire broke out along the railroad tracks at the 1600 block of Reynolds Road, at the intersection with Blakeslee Junction, according to Firefighter Chris Layton.

They were assisted by the Chehalis Fire Department, Lewis County Fire District 6 and DNR.

The rail line was shut down for several hours while crews extinguished the flames, which covered an area approximately 600 feet long and 40 feet wide, according to Layton.

Just yesterday, the National Weather Service issued warnings that the combination of high temperatures, dry fuels and breezy weather is conducive to serious wildfire danger into the weekend.

This morning’s message from the weather services states that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur starting late tonight, and advise the public to monitor forecasts for possible red flag warnings.

Tomorrow’s high in Chehalis is forecast at 98 degrees. Randle residents can expect temperatures of 93 degrees today and 89 degrees tomorrow.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Potential record breaking temperatures along with dry and breezy conditions have prompted weather watchers to warn of a serious risk of fire danger.

Western Washington is ripe for wildfires into the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

A fire weather watch was issued last night for the Southwest Interior lowlands along with much of the western side of the state.

Temperatures are forecast to be in the middle-90s in Chehalis over the next three days, reaching as high as reach 97 degrees on Friday.

The Department of Natural Resources today expanded its burn ban to prohibit campfires in state parks, state forests and all forestlands protected by DNR.

The weather service urges people to avoid outdoor burning of every kind, not to use fireworks and to use ashtrays in motor vehicles.

“After a relatively mild summer, we are entering a period of critical fire weather on both sides of the Cascades,” Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark stated in a news release. “The greatest fire danger right now comes from carelessness. It’s essential that people understand the risks involved and do not spark any fires.”

An excessive heat watch issued this morning by the weather service is in effect tomorrow through Saturday evening.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Fans of Lewis County’s first responders can meet the people on the front lines and behind the scenes at their show-and-tell today.

Last year, the gathering dubbed First Responders Day was held in the parking lot at Bethel Church in Napavine. This year, the fun moves to the Southwest Washington Fair.

The event is designed to provide citizens the opportunity to interact with the many different first responders serving the citizens of Lewis County, all in one place. It will be held in the area of the north lawn by the Saloon Stage.

Demonstrations planned include: a firearms simulator, fire extinguisher simulator, CPR flash mob, Sparky the Fire Dog, water pump drill, Safety Pup, Hurst rescue equipment demonstration, less-lethal demonstration, Stop Stix deployment demonstration, search and rescue K-9 demonstration, and patrol K9 demonstration.  Visitors will also be able to meet the sheriff and local police chiefs.

Demonstrations run from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The following agencies have been asked to participate in the event: Centralia, Chehalis, Napavine, Toledo, Morton and Pe Ell Police Departments, Washington State Patrol, Lewis County Dispatch, Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Lewis County Juvenile, American Red Cross – Lewis County Chapter, Lewis County Crime Stoppers, Search and Rescue – Cascade Dogs, all Lewis County fire districts, Lewis County Chaplains and the Lewis County Coroner’s Office.

Van is impounded after getting struck by tree. / Courtesy photo by Bill Serrahn

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The couple whose van roof was crushed by a cottonwood tree in Packwood escaped serious injury or worse by inches.

Lewis County Fire District 10 Chief Lonnie Goble said they were traveling along U.S. Highway 12, maybe 30 to 45 mph, when the tree came down yesterday afternoon, striking just behind the driver’s seat.

“That had to be a sudden stop,” Goble said. “It pushed the roof down to within an inch of where you put your feet on the floorboard.”

The woman passenger possibly had a broken arm and the driver had to wait to get out while a crew cut the vehicle, he said.

“He was just fine, he just stepped out and had a little pain in his back,” Goble said.

John E. Lange, 45, and Stephanie C. Lee, 39, both from Olympia, were transported to Morton General Hospital. They were treated and then released, a hospital spokesperson said today.

Their 2007 Honda Odyssey minivan was destroyed. The fire chief estimated the diameter of the tree as 18 to 20 inches.

Goble said they had a dog laying in the back seat, which was shook up, but seemed to also be unhurt.

•

Tree lays along U.S. Highway 12 after roadway is cleared. / Courtesy photo by Bill Serrahn