The State Fire Marshal closed 53 cases of arson in 2020, and the office is working to make that number go down. The United States Fire Administration says that over 210,000 fires every year are classified as arson. Those cases also result in 375 civilian deaths, 1,300 civilian injuries, and $1 billion in property damage.
- PUB DATE: 5/6/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCIA-TV CBS 3 Champaign

With demand for coronavirus vaccines declining in parts of the country, the Biden administration announced a change in strategy this week, adopting a more targeted approach for reaching America’s not-yet-vaccinated population. Despite the nation’s relatively smooth and speedy rollout, there’s still a lot of work to do—and a fair amount of doubt, per the week’s reports on herd immunity, that it’ll get done.
- PUB DATE: 5/6/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fortune

Investigators believe a wildfire that scorched over 85 acres in Richland this week started at a homeless camp along a local highway. Battalion Chief Randy Aust informed officials about the initial investigation into the Yakima Delta Fire during a recent city council meeting. Aust told city leaders that the fire appeared to start near a homeless encampment in the area of State Route 240 near the Yakima River.
- PUB DATE: 5/6/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KATU-TV ABC 2 Portland

Clark County Fire District 6 officials say it’s the deadliest job in America: towing disabled cars off the side of the freeway. In just the past few months, three tow truck drivers were in serious crashes in southwest Washington. “I think people have been cooped up for so long that they really want to get out and get going and we’ve noticed it,” said David Schmitke, the public information officer and public education coordinator for CCFD6.
- PUB DATE: 5/6/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KPTV FOX 12 Portland

When Amanda Winchell started working at the Spokane Fire Department Training Center, she never thought her love of raising goats would intersect with her job as an office manager there. But Chief Brian Schaeffer loves to utilize his employees’ unique skills. “She’s part of our family, and the goats are her passion when she’s at home,” Schaeffer said.
- PUB DATE: 5/6/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Spokesman-Review - Metered Site