Yakima Training Center to receive 2020 Army Community Partnership Award

Yakima Training Center and the city of Yakima, Washington, have been selected to receive the 2020 Army Community Partnership Award during a virtual award ceremony tentatively scheduled for December. The Department of Defense presents the award each year to installations demonstrating partnerships that improve quality of life for service members and their families, enhance Army readiness and modernization capabilities and build stronger community relationships. Yakima Training Center and the city of Yakima Fire Department have partnered in a mutual aid agreement to perform fire emergency services, including life-saving rescues, structure fire calls and wildland firefighting, throughout the Yakima Valley. The agreement ensures immediate alarm notification to each department, dependent upon emergency response requirement and incident location.
US Army

Electrical Issue Causes House Fire in Centralia

One person received superficial injuries in a Centralia house fire Monday evening likely caused by an electrical issue, the Riverside Fire Authority reported. The fire was reported at 6:50 p.m. Monday in the 400 block of West Cherry Street in Centralia. According to the RFA, the fire started in an upstairs bedroom of a single-family home. Two adults home at the time were alerted to the fire by a second-floor smoke alarm. The adults called 911 and attempted to use a fire extinguisher to slow the spread of the fire. They told dispatchers a bed was on fire and that flames were spreading through the room. According to the RFA, flames were visible from the upper story windows when they arrived. Firefighters contained the fire to the second-floor bedroom where it started, but the house also sustained smoke and water damage. According to the RFA, the likely cause of the fire is an electrical issue.
Centralia Chronicle

Wahkiakum Fire District 3 named as grant recipient

The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) recently announced the recipients of 23 grants totaling $104,000 to advance the quality of life and enable economic development in communities served by members of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association. Wahkiakum West Telephone has announced Wahkiakum Fire District Number 3 as one of these grant recipients. Wahkiakum Fire District 3 received $4,797 to purchase three Infrared Wi-Fi enabled cameras to be used for technologically advanced fire detection and for search and rescue emergencies. “Especially during the ongoing pandemic, the work or projects these grant recipients are going to accomplish will make a significant impact in their communities,” said FRS Executive Director Pam Becker.
Wahkiakum County Eagle

’Catastrophic loss of medical care’ possible if Washington’s COVID-19 numbers skyrocket

The governor and doctors are warning our state could face a "catastrophic loss of medical care" next month if coronavirus numbers continue to skyrocket. Right now, the number of hospital admissions are nearing the peak that we saw back in the Spring and hospitals are now bracing for a bigger surge that could force doctors to make life or death decisions for patients. We’re at that point where hospitals are filling up fast. Now, doctors are seriously worried they will have to choose which patients receive lifesaving care. That's why they're urging us not to take risks by gathering this Thanksgiving. Up until this point in the pandemic, doctors haven’t had to make gut-wrenching decisions about who lives or dies. But Emergency Room doctor and president of the Washington State Medical Association warns we’re on that path.
KIMA-TV CBS/CW+ 29 Yakima

10th Civil Support Team conducts hazardous material training at SeaTac Airport

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is one of the nation’s busiest airports, servicing 51.8 million passengers and nearly 500,000 metric tons of cargo annually. It’s also one of the busiest ports of entry into the United States for foreign travel. Those are solid reasons for why the 10th Civil Support Team joined up with the Port of Seattle Fire Department and observers from the state Department of Health for a hazardous material recon and detection exercise at the fire department training area on Nov. 18, 2020. “The scenario was simple -- a passenger from a foreign country carries a hazardous material with them on a flight,” said Maj. Wes Watson, commander of the 10th Civil Support Team. “It is detected as they enter customs, but now we need to survey the plane and help clear the scene. While it is simple, it is also a very complex exercise.” The exercise started with a team from the Port of Seattle Fire Department identifying that they have found radiological materials on the plane.
Defense Visual Information Distribution Service

Spokane Valley Fire Department: How to safely cook a deep-fried turkey this Thanksgiving

VIDEO: Cooking fires are nationally very common this time of year. The Spokane Valley Fire Department says, in the Spokane region, cooking fire calls happen three to five times more during the holidays than any other time of year. This includes fires started with the improper use of a turkey fryer. The fryer should be on a stable surface that’s not too close to your home or anything flammable, like a concrete surface outside. Make sure you put enough oil in your turkey fryer, but not too much, depending on your turkey size. SVFD Fire Marshal Greg Rogers says it helps to fill your fryer with water as a test. Then, get your oil to the right temperature. Too much oil that’s too hot can spill over and be dangerous. Putting a frozen turkey in a turkey fryer is also a big mistake. Make sure your turkey is completely thawed out before you cook it.
KXLY-TV ABC 4 Spokane

Washington state reports over 6,200 new COVID-19 cases in last three days

A massive backlog caused by thousands of Washingtonians being tested for COVID-19 led to over 6,200 new coronavirus cases in the past three days. The Washington State Department of Health reported 6,277 new COVID-19 cases, 331 additional hospitalizations and 36 more deaths over the past three days. The latest surge pushes the statewide total since the start of the pandemic to 147,537 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 10,096 hospitalizations and 2,655 deaths. State health officials urge the public to not have friends and other family inside your home for social gatherings. Social gatherings of up to five people outside, distanced, and wearing a face covering at all times is a safer way to connect with others. “COVID-19 activity is increasing throughout Washington state, leading to more cases, straining the testing sites and hospital capacity. It is more critical than ever for Washingtonians to actively help reduce the spread of this deadly virus,” says Secretary of Health John Wiesman.
KIMA-TV CBS/CW+ 29 Yakima