An arson suspect was arrested less than an hour after a Washington Department of Transportation employee spotted someone lighting a fire along I-5 Wednesday, authorities said. Around 3:30 p.m., a tweet sent by Trooper Bourland with Washington State Patrol warned of a sudden grass fire along the northbound lanes of I-5 near the Gee Creek Rest Area, just south of Ridgefield.
- PUB DATE: 8/26/2015 5:12:36 PM - SOURCE: Northwest Cable News

Smoke blanketing the area caused difficult breathing and poor visibility for residents and fire personnel in the Curlew River valley, Kettle River valley, and much of northeast Washington on Monday. Calm air and smoke resulted in less intense fire activity on these fires for elevations under 4000 feet.
- PUB DATE: 8/26/2015 11:55:54 AM - SOURCE: KHQ-TV NBC 6

A familiar and welcome sound returned to the skies over Okanogan County Tuesday. Helicopters resumed air drops over Okanogan Complex fires. Limited visibility had grounded air support flights since Sunday, but on Tuesday afternoon the skies cleared enough for four helicopters to take off. “We flew for five and a half hours and made 75 drops,” said pilot Johnny Harmsen, who flies for the federally-contracted “Firehawk.
- PUB DATE: 8/26/2015 6:35:22 AM - SOURCE: Northwest Cable News

A trained volunteer said he is itching to get into the firefight against the Okanogan Complex near Omak. He said the state is not putting him or some heavy equipment to work. Washington’s Department of Natural Resources invited volunteers to help fight the wildfires for the first time ever. On Tuesday, the agency said the Okanogan Complex is the number one priority fire in the country.
- PUB DATE: 8/26/2015 5:48:28 AM - SOURCE: KREM-TV CBS 2

SUVs will continue to respond to some medical emergencies in Spokane, according to an agreement announced Monday between the city and the firefighters union. The agreement follows a vote by the City Council last month that required the Alternative Response Units to be staffed by two people instead of one.
- PUB DATE: 8/26/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Spokesman Review - metered site