Yakima Fire Department celebrates arrival of 2 new fire engines

VIDEO: The Yakima Fire Department is celebrating the arrival of two new fire engines: one for Station 91 and another for Station 95. Yakima Fire Chief Aaron Markham said the department ordered the engines back in August 2021, but their arrival was delayed due to supply chain issues and the company moving locations. "Now, the timeframe to get a new apparatus built is about 800 days," Markham said. "So, this is probably going to be the new norm for the foreseeable future." According to Markham, each engine cost $750,000, paid for by funds the City of Yakima received during the pandemic through the American Rescue Plan Act. Markham said their older engines tend to break down more frequently and having new ones means more reliability and a reduction in maintenance costs.
Apple Valley News Now

Poulsbo house fire under investigation, 2 injured

Crews are investigating a house fire that happened in Poulsbo early Tuesday morning. According to Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue (CKFR), at around 3:40 a.m., firefighters responded to a residential structure fire in the 12000 block of Dogwood Ave. NW, which is just east of Island Lake. The reporting party told dispatch there were possibly trees on fire and an additional structure. Callers also stated they heard explosions. When crews arrived, they found a detached garage and two sheds on fire. Crews eventually put out the fire and managed to keep it from spreading to the main residence and surrounding trees. The CKFR says two people were taken to a nearby hospital with burns on their hands. The County Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.
KCPQ-TV FOX 13 Seattle

The Inland Northwest could burn again: Potential for more wildfires highlights need for safety, preventative measures

Fire officials are preparing for a hot, dry summer that could leave the region in danger of wildfires. “That’s if I had to predict what was going to happen,” Fire District 3 Chief of Fire Prevention Dustin Flock said. “We don’t really know where it’s going to be or what it’s going to do.” After weeks of summer without excessive stretches of scorching weather or smoke-filled skies, conditions took a devastating turn in mid-August when two human-caused wildfires burned hundreds of homes in Medical Lake and near Elk. It’s unlikely wildfires will burn in those areas again, Flock said. But other areas are a big risk. The Aspen Meadows area between Cheney and Spangle comes to his mind when he thinks of places at a high risk for fire, as well as Mullen Hill off Highway 195.
The Columbian - Metered Site

Mechanical malfunction sparks fire on arriving Delta flight at Sea-Tac airport

A mechanical malfunction caused a fire inside the nose area of a Delta flight at Sea-Tac airport Monday evening. An airport spokesperson said at around 9:35 p.m., Delta flight 604 arrived at gate A10 from Cancun. After plugging into electric power, sparks caused a fire inside the nose area, according to officials. The airport spokesperson continued to say that chutes were deployed, and passengers were evacuated to the ramp. By the time the Port of Seattle Fire Department arrived, there was no fire showing, but they proceeded to spray water on the area anyway. Passengers were returned to the terminal by way of the ramp stairs to the loading bridge, according to officials.
KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

Washington ranked 10th in 2023 with most homes at risk from wildfires

May 4 was Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. Even in Washington, those on the frontlines of wildfires said they are now prepared year-round. "We're seeing fires in areas that we don't anticipate. We are seeing fires at a time of the year that is uncommon," said Michelle Steinberg, Wildfire Division Director for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Now is a good time to identify fire hazards around your home. Some ideas include cleaning out dry debris in your gutters and clearing out overgrown vegetation around your home. "This is basically trying to address what ends up being fuel for the wildfire in our communities which can be anything from the structures themselves to the vegetation on our landscapes," said Steinberg.
KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle