Snohomish County has launched a text-to-911 service, joining Kitsap County in offering the service. SNOCOM, which handles communications for Snohomish County, will accept text messages meant for situations when a phone call will not work. The system is aimed at helping people in dangerous situations like a domestic violence call, home invasion or kidnapping where a call cannot be made.
- PUB DATE: 7/8/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: king5

A 79-year-old man was killed when his house burned in a fire that investigators say started by a neighbor's trash burn. A man and woman were burning trash and other items in a backyard concrete pit behind their home near Olympia Tuesday night when the fire got out of hand and spread to a nearby bush, according to Thurston County Sheriff's officials.
- PUB DATE: 7/8/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO NEWS

A Yakima Fire Department lieutenant has been formally charged with having sex with a 17-year-old student he was teaching at a local school. Joseph Chinco, 51, was charged Tuesday with first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor and witness tampering, for trying to get her to withdraw her accusation, said Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Steve Jackson.
- PUB DATE: 7/7/2015 6:36:06 PM - SOURCE: Yakima Herald-Republic

Members of the Clarkston Fire Department are recovering from a busy weekend. They were on high alert putting out several firework related hazards. They received 11 firework related calls on the Fourth of July. Two of the calls they received were structure fires and the rest were grass and brush fires.
- PUB DATE: 7/7/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: klewtv

The Rutter Parkway fire is still active, and the perimeter is still weak. Crews from DNR and Spokane County Fire District #9 are on scene, with assistance from Stevens County Fire District #1. Stevens County says there will be a lot of aircraft in the area Tuesday fighting the fire, including retardant planes.
- PUB DATE: 7/7/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: khq