"What we focus on in the training is how do we sequence these things and do things at the same time," said Bill Godfrey, lead instructor. "Manage it all. communicate, keep everything and everybody informed." A Benton County first responder stumbled upon the course online. Chief Bill Whealan from Benton County Fire District #4 applied to be the host agency after the discovery.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2018 9:32:14 PM - SOURCE: YakTriNews

Lewis County 911 Manager Dave Anderson announced his resignation Tuesday, leaving the post after two and a half turbulent years, according to internal memos obtained by The Chronicle. “Through all the hurdles and hardships, I have achieved what I set out to accomplish, and then some,” Anderson wrote.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2018 3:35:03 PM - SOURCE: Centralia Chronicle

Perspective and what we focus on influences our outcomes.  As a technician, when a clock doesn’t work, we take it apart and look for that thing, the bad piece, the “bad apple” in the bunch.  We pride ourselves on quickly finding the problem and fixing the clock.  The greater picture, however, might be much more complex than is immediately apparent, much the way the formation of a cloud is many dynamic forces coming together, which ultimately create rain in the sky or a life-changing hurricane.  How we approach our work, looking for that one “bad apple” thing (clocks) or analyzing the big picture forces in a dynamic environment (clouds) will dictate our outcomes.     

New Grant Awards Coming Soon:  Latest word according to FEMA, is that grant awards will begin soon after the 4th of July.

Next Grant Deadline Fast Approaching:  According to the Help Desk, FEMA plans to accept another round of AFG grant applications beginning in August 2018.  Click here for a list of High Priority Funding Items, http://www.resourcesolutionsnow.com/our-services/fema-firefighter-grant-program.  If you need help preparing your next grant, get started early, because the schedules of qualified grant writers are filling up fast!

What to Do if You Received a Turn-Down Letter  Many departments received AFG turn-down letters this Spring.  Now is the time to revise those applications and get them ready to resubmit...

A wind-fueled grass fire which broke out Wednesday evening south of Prosser has grown to burn an estimated 2,500 acres so far. State fire resources are being requested to help battle what's been dubbed the Montecito Fire. State incident commanders are considering the fire at zero percent containment until their crews can check the fire and verify local officials’ report of 80 percent containment, said incident management team spokesman Ben Shearer.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2018 10:21:53 AM - SOURCE: Yakima Herald-Republic