A unified Spokane City Council voted Monday to slow the push toward combining the region’s response to 911 calls. Lawmakers cited concerns from emergency responders and the continued lack of information from the mayor’s office about the shift. “I’m sure this will be a point of contention moving forward,” said City Council President Ben Stuckart, who took the rare step of suspending the rules to add the ordinance to Monday night’s agenda before garnering unanimous support for the proposal.
- PUB DATE: 7/16/2018 8:39:48 PM - SOURCE: Spokane Spokesman-Review

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office says suspects have been detained for starting a large wildfire on the Colville Indian Reservation, in the Hellgate Nature Preserve on Thursday. At last report, the Rattlesnake fire was 2,773 acres in size and 75 percent contained. About 275 firefighters are still battling the blaze Monday.
- PUB DATE: 7/16/2018 5:54:58 PM - SOURCE: KAYU-TV MyFox Spokane

One man was transported to a hospital for smoke inhalation due to a fire Monday west of Kennewick. The fire started behind the resident's home at 26 South Bermuda Road shortly after 4 p.m. and spread to some trees in the neighbor's yard. The patient suffered minor injuries. Officials said the fire appears to have been caused by a burn pile.
- PUB DATE: 7/16/2018 5:45:58 PM - SOURCE: YakTriNews

An irresponsible drone pilot was hindering firefighting efforts in Mason County on Monday, officials said. The Mason County sheriff’s department said the Department of Natural Resources had to stop air-water air operations in the area due to drones. “Please DO NOT FLY ANY DRONES around the active fire,” the sheriff’s deparment said in a tweet.
- PUB DATE: 7/16/2018 5:42:41 PM - SOURCE: KCPQ-TV FOX 13

Officials say a firefighter killed while battling a wildfire near Yosemite National Park was driving a bulldozer and trying to prevent the fire from spreading. Braden Varney, 36, was a second generation firefighter, state fire officials told CBS Sacramento. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Chief Nancy Koerperich said Saturday that Varney was cutting a "fire break" with the vehicle to prevent the blaze from spreading when he was killed.
- PUB DATE: 7/16/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CBS News