Governor Bob Ferguson has expanded an existing emergency proclamation about wildfires in Washington to include five more counties including Benton and Kittitas Counties.

On August 4, Governor Ferguson issued an emergency proclamation for a state of emergency related to wildfires burning across the state. The emergency proclamation was intended to help local governments cover the costs of evacuating and providing shelters for people who are displaced by wildfires, as well as help with firefighting efforts. When it was first declared, the declaration covered Chelan, Ferry, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens and Yakima Counties as well as the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and the Spokane Tribe of Indians.

On August 31, Governor Ferguson amended his emergency proclamation to include Benton, Kittitas, Columbia, Grant and Whitman Counties. The amendment also extends eligibility for the State Individual Assistance Program and the Family Emergency Assistance Program, as well as protections from eviction for people who had to evacuate due to a fire.

“Wildfires have destroyed Washingtonians’ homes across a broad geographic area,” Governor Ferguson said in a written statement. “We remain laser-focused on assisting Washingtonians who have lost so much. My emergency proclamation extends important protections and expands eligibility to ensure everyone impacted can seek the help they need.”

The new amendment to the emergency proclamation extends several state protections and assistance for another two months. The protections against eviction have also been extended to last until September 30.

Apple Valley News Now

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A man stranded on a rocky spire in the Washington Cascades for 18 hours is so thankful to the helicopter crew that saved his life that he donated $10,000 to their rescue organization. The climber has chosen not to be identified.

But his story is being told across the Pacific Northwest after he got stuck on a rocky outcropping, unable to climb either up or down. The man’s harrowing story began on the morning of July 30th. The 37-year-old set out to climb the 7,960-foot Mt. Daniel, a rocky pinnacle that juts into the sky amid mountain snowfields, northeast of Snoqualmie Pass and west of Leavenworth.

He began the arduous journey alone, departing from the Cathedral Rock trailhead at 5:00 am. By late afternoon, he arrived at the summit of the towering peak. As he started back down, the lone climber mistakenly took the wrong route. It was a costly error that led him down a rocky, steep slope onto a small cliff ledge.

By this time, it was around 6:00 pm, with just a few hours of daylight remaining to figure out what to do. With no safe path to follow to higher ground, or a secure passage down, it soon became clear he was trapped and would have to remain overnight on the razor-thin ledge on which he was standing. That meant surviving a treacherous night in that precarious position.

KIRO-TV CBS 7 Seattle

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West Hazleton (PA) Fire Co. received a $75,000 grant from Lowe’s Home Improvement to renovate its 87-year-old fire station, and a $68,080 state grant for a new generator.

The post Lowe’s $75K Grant Helps West Hazleton (PA) Fire Co. Improve Its Home appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

The acquisition expands Stellar’s purpose-built work truck portfolio into the fire and emergency response market.

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"I have been to several events recently and have had multiple conversations where the topic has centered around fire service research and fire service culture."

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