Firefighters had quite the challenge dousing flames that were burning a home in Monroe late Wednesday night. The fire was reported just before midnight at the 21400 block of 167th Ave. SE just outside the city limits, according to Snohomish County Fire District No. 7. Firefighters arrived to find flames shooting from the home at the end of a very long driveway with no nearby source of water.
- PUB DATE: 10/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

Franklin County Deputies were dispatched to assist with a suspicious fire in the 5000 block of Janet Road last week. While there Deputies were able to determine that the individual living inside the camper had intentionally started the fire. They also obtained information that narcotics were located on the property.
- PUB DATE: 10/28/2020 5:54:59 PM - SOURCE: KNDO-TV NBC 23 Yakima

After a two-month decline, there's an increase in COVID-19 cases across Washington. Health officials are particularly concerned about South King County where the positivity rates are about 4 times higher than the rest of the county. Paige Cambern said she rarely visits downtown Auburn now even though she lives close by due to concerns around the virus.
- PUB DATE: 10/28/2020 4:51:40 PM - SOURCE: KCPQ-TV FOX 13 Seattle

A mobile home in Pasco caught on fire while a family was sleeping inside. Four people were sleeping inside a LakeView Mobile Home when it caught fire on October 28 around 2:30 a.m. in Pasco. The family of four, a father, mother and two kids are safe. Pasco police said the fire started in the breaker box moved to the wall and into the ceiling.
- PUB DATE: 10/28/2020 8:40:46 AM - SOURCE: KNDO-TV NBC 23 News Richland

By Mark Correira

“Two-hundred years of tradition unimpeded by progress” – a favorite phrase of many fire service members. Change can be difficult and uncomfortable, but necessary if we are going to make a difference in our communities. I raise this as a conversation starter on diversity and inclusion in the fire service.

The Fire Service lacks diversity. Career firefighters in the United States are 96% male, and 82% are white. Even the military (85% male, 60% white) and law enforcement (88% male, 73% white) are more inclusive. These statistics point to the need to diversify our workforce and create a more inclusive fire service culture.