1 dies in travel trailer fire in Mason County

One person was killed but another managed to escape a fire that burned their travel trailer in Mason County Thursday. Firefighters with Central Mason Fire & EMS were called to a fire just off Mason Lake. They had trouble reaching the fire due to heavy snow buildup on the private driveway and eventually arrived to find a travel trailer in flames. Two people were inside when the fire broke out, but only one survived, officials said. The cause of the fire is still being investigated and the name of the victim has not been released.
KOMO News

Richland Fire Department’s new ambulance is loaded with high-tech safety features

Firefighters and paramedics at the Richland Fire Department have welcomed a new member of the team -- a new, high-tech ambulance. It's the first of its kind for the department. Unlike the rest of their medic units, this one has several safety features aimed to better serve the City of Richland. "This one does have airbag crash protection in the back for the occupants and the customers that we serve," said Capt. Zach Gould with the Richland Fire Department. "Not just in the cabin of the vehicle." It was put into service on Feb. 9, nearly a week before anticipated. This was due to the winter storm rolling through the state.
YakTriNews

Body found in Anacortes house during fire investigation

A body was found this morning in the hallway of a house that was destroyed by fire shortly after midnight on the 2200 block of 13th Street in Anacortes. Anacortes Fire Chief Dave Oliveri said the discovery was made by Fire Marshal Jack Kennedy and a crew member after they returned to the scene to investigate the fire’s cause. The identity of the deceased was not known. The cause of the fire was under investigation as of 9:30 a.m. Anacortes Police Capt. Dave Floyd said a couple of detectives were going to the scene. The fire was called in by a neighbor at 12:27 a.m., Oliveri said, and he surmised that the fire had been burning for some time before it was called in. The house was “well-involved” by the time firefighters arrived, with flames bursting through the back of the house, Oliveri said.
Skagit Valley Herald (GoSkagit.com)

National Guard helping Eastside Fire and Rescue after heavy snowfall

The National Guard is helping Eastside Fire and Rescue after a snowstorm that hit the area is still causing problems for residents in North Bend and nearby areas. At Eastside Fire and Rescue Station 87, the National Guard was helping escort fire crews and first responders to areas that were unpassable. Firefighters also were not using regular fire engines, but using their brush truck typically used for wildfires because it’s higher off the ground. Conditions continued to be rainy Thursday with wind picking up in the afternoon. Residents were worried about additional snowfall. A woman near North Bend who was stuck in her home without medication was reached after crews reached her using two snowmobiles. She was taken to a hotel in Issaquah.
KIRO 7 News

Garbage trucks loses control on icy street in Kenmore, trapping driver

A harrowing rescue took place on a steep, icy road in the aftermath of our winter storms. A garbage truck lost control along a twisting section of NE 163rd St, and the driver ended up trapped beneath the rig. A utility crew driving a snow plow first came upon this wreckage and quickly discovered the driver pinned between the vehicle and the snow and ice. “Usually he comes in the morning and our trash has been out there all day,” said Donald Black, who lives nearby. “He was probably coming to get our trash right after he finished up there." Firefighters worked on stabilizing the rig to keep it from sliding anymore, then started shoveling away the embankment to dig the man out. “He either fell or somehow got out of the truck and got caught underneath the chassis,” said Battalion Chief Douglas Knight with the Northshore Fire Department.
KOMO News

Two Seattle firefighters hurt during overdose call

Two firefighters were injured during a call early Thursday in the Eastlake neighborhood of Seattle. Firefighters were called to a home near East Roanoke Street and Eastlake Avenue East at 2:20 a.m. for a 27-year-old man who had overdosed and was in critical condition. At some point during the response, the firefighters were injured. They were transported to the hospital and are stable. It is unclear if the patient or someone else at the home injured the firefighters. Numerous police officers are at the home and have cordoned off the intersection as of 5 a.m.
KIRO 7 News

Jefferson County voters approve fire annexation, school measures

Voters in Jefferson County approved the East Jefferson Fire-Rescue annexation and two Port Townsend school levies by wide margins during Tuesday’s special election. The Jefferson County Auditor’s Office staff said voter turnout was low, at just 34.69 percent during the first ballot count, with 6,238 ballots cast out of 17,984 provided registered voters. The next count in the all-mail election will be by 4 p.m. Friday. The annexation of Port Townsend into the East Jefferson Fire Rescue passed by more than a 2-1 margin both within the city and within the district. East Jefferson Fire Rescue now provides fire and emergency medical services in Port Townsend but by contract. The measure will make the city part of the district.
Port Angeles Peninsula Daily News

San Juan Island EMS Chief Jerry Martin to retire in April

After three years of working as chief of San Juan Island Emergency Medical Services, Jerry Martin is passing the baton over to Karl Kuetzing. Martin announced his retirement on Jan. 25; he said he will work until April 1. “It’s been a privilege to serve the people,” Martin said. “It’s been a good career.” Severance of $69,600 was included in the EMS budget this year to cover six months of salary and to pay for eligible benefits. Martin is a Washington native who was born in Seattle and grew up in Issaquah. He started at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake to earn a degree in business and aviation. He then went to Western Washington University for a year before discovering his love for EMS.
Journal of the San Juans

Heavy snow caves in roof at Verizon store in Lacey

City officials are tallying up the damage Thursday after heavy snow caused a roof to collapse at a Verizon store in Lacey, rupturing the fire sprinkler system and a gas line, emergency officials said. Firefighters responded to the scene, the Verizon store at 653 Sleater Kinney Road SE, at about 11:30 p.m. Monday after receiving reports of a failing roof there, said Deputy Chief Ryan Cox of the Lacey Fire Department. He said the large amount of snow and rain led to the roof caving in on the business, causing thousands of dollars in damage. Crews shut off a gas leak and water spewing from the ruptured sprinkler system. The building was unoccupied at the time. Other nearby businesses were not damaged. Lacey city officials have not yet released an exact damage estimate. In addition to the roof collapse, the building sustained extensive water damage, Cox said.
KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

Marysville voters will decide about RFA in April

Voters will decide in a special election April 23 if they want to fund a new Regional Fire Authority. The City Council voted Monday in favor of the RFA, after Snohomish County Fire District 12 had previously. If approved, the RFA would be funded by a property tax rate of $1.45 per $1,000 of assessed value, or $435 annually for a $300,000 home. In November, a planning committee unanimously concluded an RFA would best serve residents and taxpayers in the greater Marysville area because it would provide a sustainable funding model, help meet increased demand and enhance operational efficiencies for emergency services. “Our elected officials have taken a giant leap forward for the future of public safety. Forming a Regional Fire Authority is a great option for our community and our citizens,” Fire Chief Martin McFalls said. Chief Administrative Officer Gloria Hirashima agreed.
Marysville Globe