emergency services

Two firefighters face away from camera looking up at tree. They each hold large chainsaws and are dressed in long yellow sleeves, jeans and hardhats. In the distant background, smoke can be seen rising above black ground in front of scattered pine trees.

Precipitation, wind change slow growth of Spokane County wildfires

By: Rebecca White / Spokane Public RadioUpdate: Interstate 90 has re-opened. Washington State Department of Transportation officials say crews have…

Children are thrown upward as they are pulled behind a boat on Tuesday, Aug. 1, on the Snake River. (Credit: August Frank / The Lewiston Tribune)

Local News

Heat safety 101: Prevention, warnings and treatment

A heat warning issued Tuesday through Thursday for areas including Orofino, Riggins, Hells Canyon and the Salmon River means more people will be at risk of heat illness. Here's how you can stay safe and cool.

The County of Maui shared photos on Facebook of the aftermath of fires on the island. // CREDIT: County of Maui on Facebook

Local News

Washington State team deploys to help in aftermath of deadly Hawaii fires

A team of search and rescue personnel based out of the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management deployed to Hawaii Friday after President Joe Biden ordered federal aid to the state to help areas impacted by devastating wildfires.The 45-person FEMA team is made up of emergency responders and other professionals trained in search and rescue from Pierce and King counties.

The picture is taken from the inside of a black car. In the front of the picture there is a steering wheel and navigation guid on the car. In front of the car, there is a blue jeep stopped in traffic. In front of the jeep, there is a big plume of smoke going across the road. On the left hand side of the picture, there is a small grassy hill.

Local News

For one Washington family, vacation in ‘paradise’ turns to disaster

(Runtime 1:02)When a Tri-Cities family headed to Hawaii, they hoped it would be the vacation of a lifetime. Instead, they found more of the same…

Kayla White, a Washington State Patrol dispatcher, sits at her console in the Tacoma communications office. Most weeks she works three 12-hour days, in addition to two other regular eight-hour days, to help cover ongoing staffing shortages. In addition, she and her colleagues now handle calls east of the Cascades after the Wenatchee communications center closed due to a lack of staffing.

Local News

It’s Not Just Police Officers. 911 Dispatchers Are Also In Short Supply

Earlier this summer, the Washington State Patrol did something it’s never done before: close one of its eight regional communication centers used to answer 911 calls and dispatch troopers and other first responders to emergencies.

People opposed to vaccine mandates protested at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia on multiple weekends during September.

Local News

Pacific NW Governors Hold Fast On Vax Deadline As More Local Officials Warn Of Worker Exodus

The days are quickly ticking down to next Monday's deadline when most Oregon and Washington teachers, health care workers and public employees need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Ocean Shores firefighter/EMT Kara McDermott spends more time than usual behind to wheel of these ambulances as overwhelmed hospitals routinely divert incoming transports.

Local News

Trickle-Down Effects From Overcrowded Hospitals: Ambulances Scarce And A House Burns

The overcrowded hospitals we've been telling you about for weeks are having ripple effects out into the community -- some you could predict and some which are a little more startling. Take for example a fire that gutted a house in Ocean Shores, expensive airlifts from Leavenworth, Washington, and slow response times for ambulance transports in Portland.