One person was hospitalized Wednesday morning after a medical emergency at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. in Longview, Washington. The incident initially prompted a hazardous materials response but was later determined not to involve a spill. The Longview Fire Department and Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue were called to the paper mill about 7:24 a.m. after reports that an employee operating a forklift may have experienced a medical emergency. While on scene, crews upgraded the response after reports of an overturned sulfuric acid container and a strong odor.

Fire officials said employees believed the container was empty or nearly empty. Crews searched the area, evacuated nearby workers and found no evidence of a chemical release. The odor was later identified as hydrogen sulfide, likely coming from a nearby sewer system and unrelated to the incident, officials said.

“Upon thorough investigation, no spill was found and the environment was confirmed safe,” the Longview Fire Department said in a statement. Investigators believe the forklift may have veered into a dip in the floor after the operator experienced the medical emergency, causing the container to fall. They said that detail has not been confirmed. One person was taken to PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center. Their condition was not released.

KREM-TV CBS 2 Spokane

The post Medical emergency prompts hazmat response at Nippon Dynawave in Longview; no spill found appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

Firefighters worked to contain a growing grass fire that closed Highway 12 and burned near the 12,776-acre Lambdin Fire. According to dispatch records, at about 3:34 p.m. on July 1 firefighters were dispatched to a reported brush fire next to Highway 12, at a spot a few miles west of Touchet. Firefighters arrived to find a fast-moving grass fire burning about four acres of land. A second-alarm fire response was requested as firefighters moved to begin containment, along with air resources.

Firefighters worked to contain the blaze, which was burning near the area scorched by the Lambdin Fire. Highway 12 was been closed between the exit to Nine Mile Road and Old Highway 12 near Touchet. Some power outages had also been reported in Touchet.

Update; The fire has been fully contained, and firefighters have mopped up the blaze.

Apple Valley News Now

The post Firefighters contain two-alarm fire on Highway 12 west of Touchet appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

All evacuation levels have been dropped after structures were lost and state fire assistance was mobilized during the Humann Fire in Yakima County on Sunday. The Humann Fire started on Sunday, June 28, at approximately 4:47 p.m. and was estimated at 150 acres and growing at that time, burning in sage and grass, and threatening public safety, residences, and private property. At 8:30 p.m. that same day, Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources at the request of Assistant Fire Chief Jacob Stuker, Yakima County Fire District 2.

The State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan is implemented to provide a process to quickly notify, assemble, and deploy fire service personnel, equipment, and other resources from around the state when fires, disasters, or other events exceed the capacity of local jurisdictions.

Level 3 evacuations were put into effect Sunday night, and the State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray was activated to Level 2, partial activation, to help coordinate state assistance. Strike teams were ordered to help with containment efforts, while the State Fire Marshal’s Office coordinated the dispatch of resources.

KIRO-TV CBS 7 Seattle

The post Evacuations dropped, structures lost during Humann Selah Fire in Yakima County appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

Milwaukee firefighters were battling a massive fire at Lincoln Avenue School on the city’s south side Tuesday morning.

The fire alarm went off just before 3 a.m. at the MPS elementary school near 18th Street and Lincoln Avenue. Firefighters arrived and initially tried to attack the fire from inside the building.

Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said crews were slowed by items stored in the hallways, making it difficult for firefighters to move through the school.

Crews eventually pulled out of the building because of the size of the school, the amount of furniture and items in the hallways, and the fire spreading on multiple floors.

By 4:30 a.m., the fire had grown to a 5-alarm fire. Officials said about 110 firefighters were working at the scene.

Video from the scene shows huge flames shooting from the roof of the building. Smoke could be seen for miles.

Crews from Milwaukee, West Allis, Greenfield and Greendale were assisting.

WISN-TV ABC 12 Milwaukee

The post VIDEO: Massive 5-alarm fire rips through Wisconsin elementary school appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

Amesbury's historic Elm Street fire station, closed since 2018 due to structural issues, aims to reopen by fall after repairs funded by insurance and city council reallocations.

The post Repairs Likely Coming to MA Fire Station appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.