Flames rise from a barn outside Centralia. / Courtesy photo by Jason Krause
Updated at 7:15 p.m.
LINCOLN CREEK ROAD BARN BURNS
• Members of four fire departments responded last night to an approximately 8:30 p.m. call about a barn fire west of Centralia. The initial reports indicated it was burning through the roof of a building containing hay and some machinery, but no animals, according to Riverside Fire Authority. A volunteer firefighter arrived within a few minutes of dispatch and radioed an update that the building was engulfed in flames and the nearby pasture land and trees were threatened, Fire Chief Mike Kytta indicated in a news release. The area – on the 1200 block of Lincoln Creek Road – is not served by fire hydrants so water tender trucks were brought in from RFA and neighboring West Thurston Fire Authority, Lewis County Fire District 6 and Grays Harbor Fire District 1, according to Kytta. The Department of Natural Resources was notified of the threat to lands under their protection and a supervisor responded. Nobody was hurt, but the building and its contents which are uninsured are a total loss, he stated.
HARASSMENT
• Centralia police responded to the RV park at the 1200 block of Alder Street around noon yesterday for a harassment complaint in which an older man had been harassed and threatened by another occupant of the park. The investigation is ongoing, according to the Centralia Police Department.
DRUGS
• Police were called about 12:30 p.m. yesterday to the 11000 block of Schueber Road in Centralia in which numerous pills were missing from the victim’s prescription bottle. The issue is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.
OTHER THEFT
• An employee at the 1000 block of Belmont Avenue in Centralia reported to police late yesterday afternoon that antifreeze was stolen, according to the Centralia Police Department.
CAR PROWL
• Centralia police were called about 2 p.m. yesterday regarding a vehicle prowl at the 600 block of Centralia College Boulevard. A ring was missing, according to the Centralia Police Department.
AND MORE
• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault, drugs, shoplifting, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for suspected drug use in a park … and more.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
I do apologize for not being clear in the press release that the Volunteer Firefighter resides only 1 mile from where the fire occurred. He responded to the first pager notification of the fire from his home and arrived on scene very quickly given the rural location. Because he is equipped with a two way portable radio he provided an update of what was occurring so we could make sure the right equipment and personnel were responding. The Lincoln Creek area does not have cell service so communications can be challenging if not for the radios. Quick response is one of the benefits of having Volunteer Firefighters as your neighbors they can arrive before the Fire trucks or Ambulance and begin addressing the emergency. I accept the fact that no one should be above suspicion and unfortunately Firefighters, Volunteer and Paid have been convicted of arson across our country before. No offense taken by the previous comment, we are proud to serve you and are pleased to answer any questions you may have.
Sleeping Giant…re-read the article. “A volunteer firefighter arrived within a few minutes of dispatch and radioed an update…”.
It does NOT state that the volunteer is the one who NOTICED it!
Yes, so suspect, isn’t it? You’re killing me!
Let’s not forget that it is nearly 100 degrees out, we’ve been without significant rainfall for how long, it’s haying season, and hay stored in a barn has been known to spontaneously combust a time or two!
Keep up the good detective work!!
The powers that be of Lewis county need to ban all fireworks this year and implement a $2500 or higher fine for use of them. We have to prevent fire!
Well, it’s a good thing we’ve got a gen-u-wine amateur detective on the case then, ready to solve the rash of barn-burnings. What would the cops do without your armchair police work.
This is the second time in two weeks a volunteer fire fighter has noticed a fire burning. I can just imagine what the fourth will bring. I heard on the radio news people are starting these fires on purpose. This fire seems suspect to me.