Flames topped the roof of a family-owned restaurant Saturday in West Valley. Mercedes & Family, at the corner of South 56th Avenue and Tieton Drive, caught fire about noon. Fire officials believe the fire started in the kitchen, said Yakima Fire shift commander Jennifer Norton. Customers and workers evacuated the restaurant as well as Joy Garden, a Korean restaurant in the neighboring building, Norton said.
- PUB DATE: 7/14/2018 6:14:59 PM - SOURCE: Yakima Herald-Republic

A duplex in north Lynnwood caught fire Friday morning, displacing five residents. Three people sleeping in the duplex were awakened when a passing driver stopped, honked and yelled that there was a fire, South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue spokeswoman Leslie Hynes said. Two other tenants weren’t home.
- PUB DATE: 7/13/2018 10:44:25 AM - SOURCE: Everett Herald

A 2-alarm fire that officials believe started in a shed eventually destroyed a house late Thursday night in Olympia. Crews responded 1100 Fairview St. SE to find multiple propane and fuel tanks burning in a shed near the home. The fire, which started at about 10:10 p.m. Thursday, quickly spread outside of the shed and firefighters had to take defensive action, although they did contain it without any injuries to firefighters or the people living at the home.
- PUB DATE: 7/13/2018 9:57:02 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

Investigators are trying to figure out what sparked an overnight fire at the Lake Stevens post office. Crews responded to the scene, at 17th Street and 124th Avenue, at around 10:30 p.m. Thursday after a passerby called to report seeing smoke and flames there. When first responders arrived, they could see fire showing at the front entrance to the post office.
- PUB DATE: 7/13/2018 9:03:37 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

Andre Esposito, chairman of Utica’s Civil Service Commission, believes the board has a tough decision to make within the next few months. The commission is considering a request from Mayor Robert Palmieri to authorize an open competitive exam to vet candidates for Utica’s next fire chief. This would open up the test to internal and external candidates for a fire department historically led by internal promotion.
- PUB DATE: 7/13/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Utica Observer-Dispatch