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Kelso, WA– Firefighters from Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue, Longview Fire Department and Cowlitz County Fire District #6 responded to a residential structure fire just after 1:00 pm in the 100 block of Villa Road in Kelso. Crews from the Cowlitz County PUD were working in the area and reported the fire. Upon arrival crews found a 2-story residence with smoke showing from the roof. Firefighters entered the structure and attacked the fire with multiple hose lines while searching the structure for occupants. Two dogs were rescued by firefighters, however two dogs and a cat perished in the fire. The fire was under control by 1:49pm.
Four residents, who were not home at the time of the fire are now displaced and will receive aid from the American Red Cross. Three fire engines, a Ladder Truck, and two Chief Officers responded to the incident. No injuries were reported; the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Kelso, WA- Fire crews responded to the report of a rolled over semi tractor-trailer near I-5 and State Route 432 on Monday just after 12:30pm. Firefighters from Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue responded to the incident with one chief officer, one fire engine, one ladder truck and an ambulance. Upon arrival crews found a large truck carrying wooden beams that tipped over, spilling the contents onto I-5 and blocking a freeway on-ramp. The driver was not injured and no other vehicles were involved in the incident. Fire crews mitigated a small diesel fuel spill. Washington State Patrol and Washington Department of Transportation also responded. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Kelso, WA – Firefighters from Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue and Cowlitz County Fire District 5 (Kalama) responded to a house fire early Thursday morning in the 3800 block of Rose Valley Rd. just before 2 am. Fire crews reported the cabin home fully involved in fire with two travel trailers at risk of catching fire when they arrived; the resident had already escaped. Firefighters extinguished the fire with multiple hose lines and confirmed there were no residents in the travel trailers. Four fire engines, three water tenders, and three Chief Officers responded to the fire. The cause of the fire, reported by the resident, was due to an extension of heat from the fireplace into the wall and ceiling. The displaced adult male will be staying with family in the area. No injuries were reported.
Fire officials remind people to have their home chimneys regularly cleaned and inspected annually by a professional as chimney and/or flu fires account for 5-7 percent of home fires each year in the U.S. More on home fire statistics and home fire safety can be found at: https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/research/nfpa-research/fire-statistical-reports/home-structure-fires
Longview, WA – Firefighters from Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue and Longview Fire Department responded to a two-story shop on fire Thursday afternoon just after 1:30 in the 100 block of Niblett Way. Fire crews arrived on scene and reported the shop fully involved in fire. Firefighters attacked the fire with multiple hose lines and protected other nearby structures and other exposures from catching fire. Firefighters had the fire under control at 2:48. Two residents escaped without injury, are now displaced, and will receive aid from the American Red Cross. Two fire engines, a Ladder Truck, a water tender, a medic unit, and three Chief Officers responded to the incident. Cowlitz County PUD and Sheriff deputies also responded. No injuries were reported; the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Kelso, WA – Multiple occupants were sent to the hospital after a head-on collision near Melrose Ln and Old Pacific Hwy Thursday afternoon just after 4 pm. Firefighters from Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue and Longview Fire Department responded to the car wreck and used hydraulic extrication tools (jaws of life) and saws to free one driver. Two patients involved in the accident were transported by ambulance to PeaceHealth St. John’s Medical Center in Longview and the other was flown by a Life Flight helicopter to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver for undisclosed injuries. Law enforcement also responded to the accident and was first on scene. An off-duty firefighter was also on scene, before on-duty firefighters arrived and assisted with vehicle stabilization and patient triage. The cause of the accident has not been determined yet by officials.
Kelso, WA – Kelso police rescued an elderly disabled man from a house fire in the 200 block of South 9th Ave Friday morning just before 6 am. The house had flames visible from the second story and smoke from the front door when they arrived. The male was inside the living room on the couch; Officers Voelker and McNulty immediately entered the home and removed the male to safety. Fire crews activated a second alarm because other residents were still inside. Firefighters from Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue and Longview Fire responded to the fire attacking it with multiple hose lines; the deceased elderly female was found just outside her bedroom in the back of the house. Other residents who were sleeping upstairs were able to escape without injuries or smoke inhalation before responders arrived.
Firefighters had the fire controlled at 6:21 am and fully extinguished at 8 am. American Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents with temporary shelter and other needs. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No other injuries were reported.
Kelso, WA - Multiple agencies responded to a two-vehicle accident including a semi-truck rollover accident Friday evening at 11:23 near the Interstate 5 Southbound off-ramp, exit 42. Initial reports were that the driver of the semi-truck was still pinned in the truck on its side. Washington State Patrol, Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue, Longview Fire Dept. and Cowlitz County Fire District 6 (Castle Rock) responded. Firefighters used multiple stabilizing equipment, hydraulic extrication tools (jaws of life), and saws to manipulate and remove the entangled metal from around the man’s body. It took rescuers over 2 hours to finally extricate him. The 57-year-old -male was transported by ambulance to Peace Health St. John’s Medical Center for muscular skeletal injuries including a severe injury to his lower left leg. He was later transferred South to a trauma hospital for further treatment. The other driver of a passenger truck was also taken to St. John’s Medical Center for chest pain.
Two fire engines, one ladder truck, three medic units, and three Chief Officers responded. A heavy tow truck wrecker from Carl’s Towing also responded and assisted in stabilizing and moving the truck so responders could gain better access to the driver compartment.
Multiple responders, some with over 20 years of experience, expressed that this was one of the most challenging and complex car accidents, involving extrication of a patient, they had experienced in their careers.