A family of three has been displaced following a garage fire in Kelso Monday night. At around 10:40 p.m., Cowlitz 2 Fire 7 Rescue and Longview Fire Department responded to a fire in the 1100 block of North 1st Avenue. Firefighters arrived to the scene and found fire in the garage. Officials said three occupants and their pets were able to make it out of the home.
- PUB DATE: 2/5/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KPTV-TV FOX12 Beaverton

Mount Vernon Fire Chief Bryan Brice is considering his department lucky no one was injured after a window was shattered when a metal pipe used for smoking was thrown into the downtown fire station. The Mount Vernon Police Department was called to the fire station shortly after 7 a.m. to a report that a man had thrown a metal pipe used for smoking through one of the station’s windows and into a firefighter’s sleeping quarters.
- PUB DATE: 2/4/2020 8:41:20 PM - SOURCE: Skagit Valley Herald (GoSkagit.com) - Metered Site

The Cosmopolis Fire Department took delivery on a new fire engine over the weekend, its first new fire apparatus in 32 years. Fire Chief Cody Bridges and volunteer firefighters put a shine to the 2019 KME custom pumper at the station Sunday morning, with Mayor Kyle Pauley, former mayor Frank Chestnut, members of the Aberdeen Fire Department and others dropping by to check it out.
- PUB DATE: 2/4/2020 6:45:21 PM - SOURCE: The Daily World

Clark County Fire & Rescue is moving out of downtown Ridgefield, though the fire district has its sights set on a future station in the rapidly-growing southern part of the city. CCF&R’s board of commissioners unanimously approved the sale during its Jan. 28 meeting, Clark County Fire & Rescue Chief John Nohr confirmed last week.
- PUB DATE: 2/4/2020 2:08:41 AM - SOURCE: The Reflector.com

New city firefighters make less than $15 an hour, a lower starting pay rate than city parks laborers earn. The issue came up at last week's Marion City Council meeting when a city resident questioned the existing pay rates for city parks employees, rates that went before city council for approval. "I'm not trying to say that's not an important job, but in the grand scheme of things, if I need my park to look pretty or my house not to burn down, I'm going to choose house not burning down," said Christian Dunston, an East Fairground Street resident.
- PUB DATE: 2/4/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Marion Star