All general news stories will be filed under this category.
John Ostergard, a volunteer fire captain with East Olympia Fire District 6 passed Sunday, Dec. 16 after suffering a medical emergency while on-site at a Yelm structure fire.
He was on-site Friday night (December 14) at a structure fire in the Bald Hills area when he collapsed from an apparent cardiac arrest.
South Sound 2-1-1 is a comprehensive information and referral line that serves Pierce, Thurston, and Lewis counties to connect people with health and human resources.
Callers dial 2-1-1 to access an Information and Referral Specialist (9am – 5pm, Monday through Friday).
Information and Referral Specialists offer compassion and understanding for callers and all calls are confidential.
To learn more about this free service, visit uwpc.org/stable-individuals-south-sound-2-1-1.
“Power outages can happen any time of the year. Make sure you and your family know the steps to take during a blackout.”
TEXT TO 9-1-1 is not a replacement to a voice call to 9-1-1 in an emergency situation, but rather is an enhancement to reach 9-1-1 services in specific situations such as:
For more information about this service, click here.
With winter and the holidays here, many people may not keep fire safety in mind. Here are a few tips to consider when ensuring your home is safe and ready for all the winter festivities you have planned.
1. Check your furnace. It truly is worth every cent to hire a professional to annually inspect and service your furnace. Better to go through the inspection than risk a broken furnace in the dead of winter, right?
2. Get your chimneys and vents checked. If you light fires frequently, you should hire a chimney sweep about once per year, since fireplaces produce creosote (which is highly flammable). You should also try to make sure that the wood you burn is dry so it produces less smoke.
3. Test smoke alarms. Smoke alarms should be in prominent places through the house, especially rooms like the kitchen or bedroom. You should also make sure that the batteries are working properly.
4. Cover the fireplace with a screen. Tempered glass or a metal screen helps protect sparks from leaving the fireplace. Even so, make sure that children and pets sit at least three feet away when you light a fire in the fireplace.
5. Beware of lit candles. Candles can set the mood for relaxation, and that’s how they get forgotten or knocked over by kids or pets. Light candles only when you’re around to watch them and blow them out when you’re ready to leave the room. Ditto for cigarettes, pipes, etc. If you’re going to smoke, try to do it outside.
Thurston County Sheriff’s Deputies began investigating the self-inflicted shooting death of a woman in the Rainier High School parking lot on Friday, November 30.
According to Deputy Carla Carter, at 10:30 a.m. deputies were attempting to contact the 63-year-old woman who had warrants for third-degree assault and unlawful possession of methamphetamine at a residence in the 6600 block of 92nd Lane Southeast.
At 10:45 a.m. the woman took off in a van and a pursuit ensued with her stopping in the school parking lot.
As two deputies approached the vehicle, the woman pulled out a gun and shot herself, Carter said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The area was closed off by police while they investigated and the school was in lockdown while authorities cleared the scene.
Credit: Nisqually Valley News
Fire crews from SE Thurston County spent more than 12 hours fighting a house fire in Roy. The homeowner believes that the fire could have started at an electrical outlet in the garage. Everyone made it out safely.
Read more on the Nisqually Valley News.
Ever wonder why Fire Prevention week is a thing? It was started in 1925 by a Presidential Proclamation by President Calvin Coolidge, in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
This fire was devastating and changed much about American life. For more on the history of the Chicago Fire of 1871 and Fire Prevention Week, check out this video:
Fire prevention week is coming up and SE Thurston Fire Authority wants to remind kids about fire safety rules they should remember.
Remember that your family should have a plan in place in case of a fire. For more fire safety rules to share with your kids, watch this video:
It’s nearly the opening for deer season. With that comes an important question: do you know the hunter orange requirements? It’s a hard question for some, but everyone going into the woods (for any reason) this time of year should have the answer.
The requirement is a minimum of 400 square inches that must be visible from all sides and above the waist. According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website, a hat alone does not meet this requirement.
For more details on the regulations and the upcoming seasons, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website.
