Firefighter Gervase Henson and Battalion Chief Rudy Peden earned top honors at the Valley Regional Fire Authority’s annual awards presentation March 2 at the Auburn Golf Course banquet room. Henson received the Firefighter of the Year award and Peden was chosen Fire Officer of the Year for 2017. Henson, who began his career with the Legacy Auburn Fire Department in 2003, represents the VRFA on the King County Fire Training Association Community Outreach Team, influencing diversity awareness.
- PUB DATE: 3/26/2018 7:27:48 PM - SOURCE: Auburn Reporter

On Mar. 23, Governor Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 6214 into law, allowing first responders to file for workers’ compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder. Police officers, firefighters, and paramedics will all be eligible to receive workers comp for PTSD acquired on the job. Workers’ compensation claims for PTSD and other stress-related mental conditions are not allowed by state law.
- PUB DATE: 3/26/2018 6:20:30 PM - SOURCE: Business Examiner

Efforts to improve the management of Washington forests and reduce the risk of wildfire received another boost today with the signing of Sen. Brad Hawkins’ bill to support “good neighbor” agreements between state and federal agencies. The new law, created by Senate Bill 6211, gives the state Department of Natural Resources immediate authority to handle revenue and authorize spending under the Good Neighbor Authority agreement signed by DNR and the U.
- PUB DATE: 3/26/2018 9:26:46 AM - SOURCE: KPQ-AM 560

Four family members escaped a burning house uninjured with little more than the clothes they were wearing, Forks-area Fire District 1 Chief Bill Paul said. There were no injuries in the fire reported at 3:58 a.m. Friday that destroyed the house in the 2000 block of Calawah Way outside the Forks city limits, Paul said.
- PUB DATE: 3/26/2018 7:40:48 AM - SOURCE: Port Angeles Peninsula Daily News

Police say investigators do not believe that a fire at a vacant mosque in Bellevue last week was a hate crime. Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett told a community meeting Saturday that those involved will be brought to justice, but he said there's nothing to indicate that the blaze was started as a result of hate or bias toward the Muslim community.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2018 10:57:11 PM - SOURCE: KING-TV NBC 5