With fire season heating up in Southern California, firefighters unveiled a new “fire hydrant” for helicopters on Monday that could drastically reduce turnaround times for water drops in remote areas. Set on a 1,700-gallon metal water tank, the Remotely Activated Snorkel Site uses robot-controlled valves to tap into an area’s municipal water system, allowing quick access for snorkel helicopters that otherwise would have to spend valuable minutes flying to a reservoir or other water source.
- PUB DATE: 6/12/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Orange County Register

One person has died in a fire that burned a home in the Blue Ridge area of North Seattle. The fire broke out in the 2100 block of NW 96th Street just after 4:30 p.m., Seattle Fire officials said. Firefighters arrived to find smoke and flames shooting from the home. The victim was found in a living room on the second floor of the home, said SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley.
- PUB DATE: 6/12/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

Authorities have some central Washington residents evacuating their homes because of a wildfire. Grant County Sheriff's Office spokesman Kyle Foreman says the blaze started Monday afternoon in the Soap Lake area along State Route 17. Foreman says wind carried the fire up over a cliff and toward some homes on the east side of State Route 17 North from milepost 81 south to Soap Lake.
- PUB DATE: 6/12/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KING 5 News

Fire crews from around the east side battled a three-alarm fire late Monday night and into Tuesday morning at a condominium complex in Redmond. The fire was reported at about 11 p.m. Monday, and heavy smoke and flames were seen shooting from the roof of the Toketi Lakeshore Condominiums on West Lake Sammamish Parkway.
- PUB DATE: 6/12/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

Bellegrove Fire Company, Annville PA, 3,000-gallon elliptical tanker-pumper. Western Star 4700SF two-door cab and chassis; Detroit DD13 450-hp engine; Waterous CX 1,000-gpm pump; APR 3,000-gallon polypropylene tank with stainless steel jacket.