Latest news with #MasonCounty
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Toonerville Fire still an active threat: More evacuation notices prompted in Mason County
Mason County fire officials are preparing surrounding neighborhoods of the Toonerville Fire to evacuate, as multiple residential streets have been reportedly affected by the rapidly spreading flames near Belfair since Tuesday evening. The updated announcement follows an evacuation of approximately 50 threatened households Tuesday night, shortly after a brush fire broke out around 5 p.m. on NE Toonerville Drive, a side street off of Bear Creek-Dewatto Road. According to the Mason County Sheriff's Office, NE Blacksmith Drive, NE Smithy Forge Lane, NE Pond Court, NE Forge Court, NE Lakeway Drive, NE Lakeway Drive South and NE Anvil Lane have been impacted and all occupants in the area should prepare to be evacuated at a moment's notice. An evacuation shelter has been set up by the American Red Cross at the Belfair Community Church on Highway 3 to aid all displaced parties. Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue, Bremerton Fire Department and South Kitsap Fire & Rescue joined Mason County fire agencies Wednesday to help contain the fire, which officials announced grew overnight to 120 acres. None of the fire has been contained as of Thursday morning. In an update late Tuesday night, North Mason Regional Fire Authority said helicopters and air tankers helped slow the fire's progress and crews on the ground are working to establish containment lines and will remain at the scene over the next few days as needed. Sign up for our alerts to receive the latest updates on important news. As of Wednesday morning, the Washington Department of Natural Resources reported that no structures have been damaged, and the fire's cause is unknown at this time. DNR said firefighters are continuing to form lines around the fire and nearby buildings, and will launch a drone in the air to gather data such as the fire's hot spots and to better map the perimeter, which is currently estimated between 70 to 100 acres. The Mason County Fire Marshal also announced a burn ban prohibiting all outdoor burning including campfires and the use of charcoal briquettes effective immediately. The county's ban follows Kitsap County's recent statement of an outdoor burning ban, which also went into effect Wednesday. This story is ongoing and has been updated as more information is released. This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Toonerville Fire spreads near Belfair, prompts more evacuation notices
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Fires on Olympic Peninsula ignite forests: Still no end in sight
Early July wildfires in Mason County have yet to be contained as the weekend approaches, which is expected to bring warmer weather that officials warn could further fan the flames. The Toonerville Fire near Belfair and the Bear Gulch Fire north of Lake Cushman have caused evacuations and closures while local firefighters and state resources work to stop the spread of flames. Here is the latest on the fires that lie just outside the Great Peninsula. Originally a brush fire on NE Toonerville Drive, the Toonerville Fire has continued to burn since the evening of July 8, leading to the evacuation of all Toonerville residents and threats to surrounding neighborhoods. The Washington Department of Natural Resources updated that a drone launched over the fire has determined its size to be close to 85 acres as of July 10. The fire had consumed approximately 120 acres after the first night. DNR said the fire was monitored by crews overnight as some winds on Wednesday caused growth on the northern edge. At present, firefighters are working to complete a line around the fire's perimeter and have requested aid from more ground and air crews. No buildings have sustained damage at this time, although evacuation warnings given to residents on NE Blacksmith Drive, NE Smithy Forge Lane, NE Pond Court, NE Forge Court, NE Lakeway Drive, NE Lakeway Drive South and NE Anvil Lane still remain intact. As for other nearby communities, DNR said changing fire and wind conditions could cause the air quality to suffer. The cause of the Toonerville Fire is still undetermined. The human-caused fire in the Olympic National Forest near Mount Rose was reported on July 10 to now span 415 acres, over double in size since Monday. Starting July 6 around 10 p.m., the U.S. Forest Service said the fire is currently burning 10 miles northwest of Hoodsport in extremely steep and rocky terrain. An area the site of another fire almost 20 years ago, the Bear Gulch Fire in 2006 left behind several dead trees that are still standing, which the Forest Service said are a significant threat to firefighter safety. Closures at nearby roads, trails and recreations site remain in place as the Forest Service warns large boulders and fallen trees, among other debris, could be dangerous to anyone passing through. A full list of all closures can be found online. Outside the forest, structures have still not been harmed by the fire and no evacuation notices have been issued to neighborhoods close by. However, occupants of the southeastern Olympic Peninsula and around the Puget Sound may notice a layer of haze, the Forest Service said. A burn ban will go into effect throughout the Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park on Friday. According to the Olympic National Forest's statement the day prior, campfires are not allowed outside of established fire rings at recreation sites. 'Because it was a very dry spring, forest vegetation is extremely dry, stressed, and receptive to stray embers,' said Olympic Interagency Fire Management Officer Jeff Bortner in a statement. 'The ongoing Bear Gulch Fire shows how fast fires can grow in these conditions. When firefighters are responding to other incidents across the region, it's even more important to prevent human-caused starts.' This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Toonerville, Bear Gulch fires burn throughout early July
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Officials confirm deaths after flash floods in central Texas
(Reuters) -Several people were missing and an unconfirmed number of people had died after torrential rains caused flash floods in central Texas on Friday, according to local authorities. The U.S. National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency advisory for the Llano River in Mason County, about 120 miles (193 km) north of San Antonio, Texas. The Llano River had risen very rapidly and the weather service warned those living near the river of "a life threatening situation!" In Kerr County, about 90 miles south of Mason County, the Sheriff's Office reported "catastrophic flooding" in the area, resulting in several people missing and "confirmed loss of life." The Kerr County authorities did not provide more details on the deaths, but local media reported that at least six people had died. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said he was coordinating with the state's emergency response team on the flooding. "Additional rain is forecast in those areas. Even if the rain is light, more flooding can occur in those areas. There is an ongoing threat for possible flash flooding from San Antonio to Waco for the next 24 to 48 hours in addition to the continued risks in west and central Texas," Patrick said in a post on social media platform X.
Reuters
04-07-2025
- Climate
- Reuters
Officials confirm deaths after flash floods in central Texas
July 4 (Reuters) - Several people were missing and an unconfirmed number of people had died after torrential rains caused flash floods in central Texas on Friday, according to local authorities. The U.S. National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency advisory for the Llano River in Mason County, about 120 miles (193 km) north of San Antonio, Texas. The Llano River had risen very rapidly and the weather service warned those living near the river of "a life threatening situation!" In Kerr County, about 90 miles south of Mason County, the Sheriff's Office reported "catastrophic flooding" in the area, resulting in several people missing and "confirmed loss of life." The Kerr County authorities did not provide more details on the deaths, but local media reported that at least six people had died. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said he was coordinating with the state's emergency response team on the flooding. "Additional rain is forecast in those areas. Even if the rain is light, more flooding can occur in those areas. There is an ongoing threat for possible flash flooding from San Antonio to Waco for the next 24 to 48 hours in addition to the continued risks in west and central Texas," Patrick said in a post on social media platform X.
CBS News
29-06-2025
- CBS News
Michigan man, 24, electrocuted, falls 30 feet from boom lift, police say
A 24-year-old Wayland, Michigan, man died after coming into contact with live electrical lines and falling 30 feet from a boom lift Saturday in Ludington, according to police. Ludington police responded to the area of West Ludington Avenue and Robert Street around 10:15 a.m. Saturday, for a report of a person being electrocuted and falling off a building. When officers arrived, they found the man unresponsive and not breathing. Ludington police, along with members of the Mason County Sheriff's Office and two bystanders, attempted lifesaving efforts until firefighters and paramedics arrived. The man was taken to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries, police said. Police say the man was operating a boom lift when, for unknown reasons, the lift and the man came into contact with live electrical lines, causing the man to fall approximately 30 feet. The man was employed by a gutter installation company based in the Ada area, according to police, and they are investigating the incident as a fatal industrial accident. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Det. Jacob Miller at 231-843-3425 or miller209@
