With wildfires continuing to affect parts of Mount Rainier National Park, park officials say their focus is on safety, protecting historic buildings and preserving the surrounding landscape for the long term. To help shield historic structures, fire management teams have created defensible space around key park buildings, including the Sunrise Visitor Center. Visitors and community members may see crews removing some trees and dense vegetation immediately around these historic buildings.

Officials said fuel removal is essential because clearing select vegetation around wooden structures can reduce wildfire risk. During an active wildfire, dense tree canopies and heavy underbrush can provide a path for flames, heat and embers to reach buildings. Thinning vegetation around structures reduces available fuel and can lower fire intensity, increasing the chance that historic buildings will survive a passing fire, officials said.

KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

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First responders assisted a motorist who crashed into a watery ditch along state Route 203 Saturday afternoon.
According to Eastside Fire and Rescue, the driver of the Ford Bronco crashed near 10000 block of Carnation Duvall Road Northeast outside Duvall around 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

The ditch was steep and filled with water, which began to sink as first responders rushed to the scene. The water was up to the car’s window when crews arrived, according to Washington State Patrol trooper Rick Johnson.
The driver was rescued without injury and crews are working to extract the vehicle. State troopers will investigate the incident and evaluate whether inebriation or distracted driving was a factor in the incident.

KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

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Boulder seeks voter approval for a $400 million bond to repair or replace aging city buildings, including a new public safety center.

The post Boulder (CO) Says It Needs $170M to Replace a Failing Public Safety Building. Here’s Why. appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

Seven people were hospitalized after a Los Angeles Fire Department truck crashed on Figueroa Street in Vermont Vista.

The post L.A. Tiller Truck Crashes Into Sports Bar Responding to Medical Emergency; Seven Injured appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

Flint broke ground on a proposed $17.5 million regional police and fire training campus with an indoor range, burn tower, and classrooms for year-round training.

The post Flint (MI) Breaks Ground on $17.5M Regional Police and Fire Training Campus appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.