A garage fire Thursday afternoon heavily damaged the building and destroyed a vehicle inside, the Yakima Fire Department said. Firefighters were dispatched to the 200 block of South Seventh Street shortly after 4 p.m., according to a department news release. The first crews arrived to find smoke coming from the eaves.
- PUB DATE: 5/18/2017 7:56:13 PM - SOURCE: Yakima Herald-Republic

Several state agencies and fire districts are preparing for another wildfire season. But this time, they're training together for the fires they will fight together. Some students from Naches Valley Middle School got an inside look at that process on Thursday. Thirteen state agencies, 27 fire districts, and 100 kids who got a sneak peek at training for more than 400 firefighters at the Central Washington Interagency Wildfire Training Academy.
- PUB DATE: 5/18/2017 7:11:45 PM - SOURCE: KIMA-TV CBS 29 Yakima

Would you rather pay higher fire insurance rates on your home and get nothing or a higher Medic 1 fee for emergency medical services to hire new firefighter-paramedics? Facing that conundrum, Port Angeles City Council members Tuesday night resoundingly acceded to Fire Chief Ken Dubuc’s request for new emergency personnel, the department’s first new staff in 26 years.
- PUB DATE: 5/18/2017 11:01:48 AM - SOURCE: Port Angeles Peninsula Daily News

A Tacoma man and his two dogs died in a house fire early Thursday. The man, in his late 60s, has not been identified. Central Pierce firefighters were called to the home in the 12200 block of Steele Street South about 1:30 a.m. “When we arrived, there was fire through the roof and it was heavily involved,” Central Pierce Fire spokesman Guy Overby said.
- PUB DATE: 5/18/2017 10:34:56 AM - SOURCE: Tacoma News Tribune

Campbell, who is not slated for a raise under the proposal, said Longview needs to keep wages for its employees competitive so it can attract and retain talented workers. The proposed plan would bring the average salaries of PTA employees to 1.04 percent below their peers. Fire Chief Phil Jurmu, Police Chief Jim Duscha and Public Works Director Jeff Cameron would all get a 6.
- PUB DATE: 5/18/2017 2:15:59 AM - SOURCE: Longview Daily News