Avista announced on Wednesday that it will temporarily adjust power line operations in Washington and Idaho during the summer. According to a press release, the reason for the change is due to dry conditions and increasing wildfire danger in the region. The operational change is called Fire Safety Mode.

Avista says Fire Safety Mode modifies how its system reacts to faults, such as tree branches or other debris hitting a power line, during high-risk weather. The standard procedure would have the power lines automatically try to re-energize, but with Fire Safety Mode, it requires a physical inspection before the power line gets re-energized. This process will lengthen the amount of time it takes to restore power outages.

“At Avista, we understand that safeguarding our communities from wildfire risk requires ongoing commitment,” said Heather Rosentrater, Avista president and CEO. “By continually enhancing our systems and working closely with local partners, we ensure that safety remains at the forefront of everything we do.”

According to the press release, Avista has “undertaken a range of grid-hardening initiatives” that target high fire-risk areas. Avista says they have taken the initiative to replace wooden transmission poles with steel alternatives, installing fire-retardant mesh on pole bases and substituting wooden crossarms with fiberglass components.

KREM-TV CBS 2 Spokane

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Kitsap County residents now have a dedicated number to call for routine public safety issues that are not emergencies, a change officials say will help keep 911 lines open for urgent calls.

Kitsap 911 and Aurelian, a technology platform built for emergency communications centers, announced that Kitsap 911 has deployed “Ava,” Aurelian’s virtual assistant, on a new non-emergency line for Kitsap County.

The public can now call 360-328-7711 for non-emergency public safety matters.

The deployment marks the first time the county’s approximately 278,000 residents have had a dedicated non-emergency contact option. Kitsap County, located on the Kitsap Peninsula across Puget Sound from Seattle, includes Bremerton, Silverdale, Port Orchard, and surrounding communities that rely on Kitsap 911 for emergency communications.

KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

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PHOTOS: Firefighters in Lacey spent their weekend rescuing some ducklings in distress. First, Engine 33 crews with Lacey Fire District Three reunited a momma duck with her little ones. The next day, Engine 34 crews were called out to help after a family watched three baby ducks fall into a storm drain. The family tried to help, but the drain cover was too heavy to move safely, Lacey Fire said.

Firefighters quickly got to work, safely recovering the ducklings and reuniting them with mom. “Two days. Two stations. Two duck family reunions. Not every call is what you expect, but every call matters. We’re glad our crews could help bring a couple of tiny families back together this weekend,” wrote Lacey Fire.

KIRO-TV CBS 7 Seattle

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Wildfire crews in northern Minnesota are utilizing a new Minnesota-made "Heat Wave" scoop system on Air Tractor aircraft.

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Ladder 32-1-90 is a 2024 Sutphen Monarch SL 100 midmount straight stick aerial. It has a four-door cab with seating for four, a stainless steel body with hinged compartments, and 180 cubic feet of storage space.

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