The trail was closed while Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife crews searched for the bear. They say the trail will remain closed until at least Thursday afternoon. Sara Autio with King County Search and Rescue tells us the injuries were severe, but not life-threatening. “As I understand, it’s some claw marks and particularly some injuries to lower extremities,” Autio said. “All in all, this could’ve been a situation that went from bad to even worse.”

She said the group of Jefferson High School students was hiking the popular trail Monday afternoon when they came across a mama black bear and her cubs. For that group, it was their first-ever time hiking. Alycia Scheidel with Conservation Northwest said black bears are not known for attacking. “I like to tell people bears are individuals like people, just because one bear responds one way doesn’t mean the next bear will respond that way,” Scheidel said.

King County Search and Rescue happened to be nearby when the frantic call for help came in. They got there and started helping the hurt teenager in just 12 minutes. “We had a team, Seattle Mountain Rescue, at the top of Mt. Si doing some technical training when they heard the page; they pivoted that team from training to an active mission response,” Autio said.

She says 40 responders across multiple agencies evacuated the trail and got the boy to the hospital. “We took a bottom-up and top-down approach. Our team training made contact with the student injured by the bear. We pulled him out with an ATV,” Autio said. They say there are around 22,000 black bears across Washington, so people should know what to do if they see one.

“If the bear starts to come closer and closer, be aggressive, yell, clap, if you have poles, put them in the air, get shoulder to shoulder to make yourself seem bigger,” explained Scheidel.

KIRO-TV CBS 7 Seattle

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In Olympia on Sunday, two eastern Washington firefighters received recognition far from home at the Washington State Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. Captain David Phay of the Spokane Valley Fire Department and Captain Troy Phillips of the Northport Fire Department, both with several decades of fire service, were honored Sunday at the Washington State Capitol. It’s hard to say goodbye to friends and colleagues, but it’s easier to remember and honor them.

Phay served 29 years as a paramedic and captain with Spokane Valley Fire. His service ended in 2018, when he passed away from an on-the-job illness, known as HLH, according to the Washington State Council of Firefighters. Meanwhile, Phillips of Northport was a captain and engineer who passed away in 2023 after serving 35 years as a volunteer firefighter. Chief David Glanville says Stevens County Fire District 11 and Northport Fire Department are entirely operated by volunteers, proving how integral Captain Phillips was to the community.

Chief Glanville remembers Phillips as jovial and everybody’s friend. “He was there with the truck, there with the water, and there with the leadership too,” said Chief Glanville. “I think his confidence and his friendship gave confidence to other firefighters that had been fairly new and made everything we did more effective.”

Chief Glanville says members of the international association of firefighters motorcycle group traveled to Northport to receive Captain Phillips’ memorial ribbon, which was then hung on the fallen firefighters memorial pike pole in Olympia.

The department also named the newest Stevens County Fire District station the Troy Phillips Memorial Station to honor his decades of service. The ceremony at the state capitol also included a traditional bell ceremony and plaque presentations to the families of Captain Phillips and Captain Phay in honor of their service and sacrifice.

KREM-TV CBS 2 Spokane

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A stolen LifeStar ambulance crashed into a tree in Bakersfield after being taken from Adventist Health Hospital in Tulare, police say.

The post Stolen CA Ambulance Crashes After Police Chase appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

A Nevada State Police trooper was injured and a passenger in a vehicle was killed when a fleeing SUV struck the trooper at a crash scene. The driver faces charges including attempted murder after being shot.

The post NV Trooper Pinned Against Fire Apparatus Before Officer-Involved Shooting, Investigators Say appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

Arlington had very specific needs with the two engines, including a low hosebed, no rear compartment, no crosslays, a 150-foot front bumper handline, and all other preconnects off the rear of the pumpers.

The post Arlington (NY) Adds Two Seagrave Pumpers to Its Fleet appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.