Several wildfires continued to burn in Eastern Washington Tuesday and Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency for 20 counties. Firefighters appeared to be gaining the upper hand against wildfires burning in the Spokane region, although heavy smoke blanketed the state's second-largest city. Inslee visited a fire command center on the Spokane County Fairgrounds on Tuesday morning, and blamed tree diseases and rising temperatures caused by climate change for the state's recent spate of record wildfire seasons.
- PUB DATE: 8/24/2016 6:24:02 AM - SOURCE: Longview Daily News

Jones said he’s thankful for the outpouring of support after his missing dog, Hunter, was mistakenly re-adopted, and for the help of the Humane Society for Southwest Washington through the ordeal of getting him back. He also expressed remorse over the massive, and often vitriolic, deluge of online commentary directed at the Humane Society and the family that adopted Hunter.
- PUB DATE: 8/24/2016 3:25:48 AM - SOURCE: Centralia Chronicle

Chief Bud Backer with East Pierce Fire and Rescue has sent out a warning to make sure consumers are not confused by some recent door knockers. He says the solicitors might look like East Pierce Firefighters, but they are not. “We wanted to get the word out that ‘no, it is not us.’ We don't know who these people are," said Chief Backer.
- PUB DATE: 8/24/2016 2:39:40 AM - SOURCE: Northwest Cable News

A dog was rescued from a burning house on the west side of Lake Tapps Tuesday, according to East Pierce Fire & Rescue. The fire at a two-story home in the 5500 block of 175th Avenue Court East was reported about 1:25 p.m. Crews arrived moments later but could not immediately go inside because there weren’t enough firefighters on scene.
- PUB DATE: 8/24/2016 2:17:23 AM - SOURCE: Tacoma News Tribune

After months of internal upheaval over a backlog in inspections, the Los Angeles Fire Department is replacing the official in charge of enforcing fire safety codes for apartment houses, schools, hospitals and other high-occupancy buildings. Fire Chief Ralph M. Terrazas said in a staff memo that Fire Marshal John Vidovich will step down next month and be assigned to the mayor’s office in an advisory position focused on new construction.
- PUB DATE: 8/24/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Los Angeles Times