Members of the Chehalis Fire Department tackle multiple grass fires along the freeway. / Courtesy photo
FOUR DEPARTMENTS TO PUT OUT FREEWAY GRASS FIRES
• Chehalis firefighters began getting calls about 4:40 p.m. yesterday of numerous fires along the southbound shoulder of Interstate 5. Firefighter Braxton Traylor said they stretched from about milepost 79 down to milepost 72. Already the closure of the Chamber of Commerce Way overpass changed their response route, according to Traylor. They couldn’t enter the freeway at the 79 interchange, so they headed out Main Street and decided to go south from there, asking Riverside Fire Authority to cover the northern portion, he said. Personnel from Lewis County Fire District 6 and 5 also responded as well to extinguish the burning grass and brush, according to Traylor. The Chehalis Fire Department understood the fires may have been ignited by a motorist dragging a chain or something similar, but Washington State Patrol spokesperson Trooper Will Finn tweeted ” … Tire from semi the cause.” just before 5 p.m. Traylor said it took a couple of hours to get it all put out.
AUTO THEFT
• Centralia police were called about 1:30 a.m. to the 300 block of West Summa Street when the owner of a vehicle came outside as their vehicle was being driven away. It had been left running, according to the Centralia Police Department. However, it was later found, undamaged, in Chehalis, according to police.
ARREST AT FULLERS
• A 26-year-old Centralia resident was arrested for second-degree burglary at the 500 block of South Tower Avenue in Centralia at about 7:30 p.m. yesterday. Lucas D. Bryan was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.
CAR PROWL
• Centralia police were called just before 8 a.m. yesterday about a vehicle prowl at the 100 block of South Diamond Street. Somebody rummaged through the unlocked vehicle but nothing appeared to be missing, was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.
TRESPASSING
• Centralia police responding to an approximately 10:25 a.m. call yesterday to the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue ended up arresting a 45-year-old Chehalis man for trespassing and for obstructing a law enforcement officer. Joshua L. Harris was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.
AND MORE
• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, probation violation, malicious mischief, misdemeanor domestic assault, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, suspicious circumstances … and more, among 170 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.
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Grass and brush burns next to Interstate 5 in Chehalis. / Courtesy photo
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter