Kittitas County, WA -08/17/2012 – In response to the Taylor Bridge fire, Kittitas County Public Health Department is providing some guidelines for evacuees to consider when returning to their homes to avoid health and safety problems. Prompt and safe cleanup procedures will help residents move forward with their lives while minimizing potential health and environmental issues that may be exacerbated with improper cleanup methods.

• Ash and debris from burned structures may contain toxic substances.  Care should thus be taken when handling any materials from buildings that are either partially damaged or completely destroyed by the fire.
• Dispose of household chemicals that have been damaged by the fire at the Ellensburg or Cle Elum Moderate Risk Waste Facility (transfer stations).
• If you have a propane tank system, contact a propane supplier, turn off the valves on the system, and leave the valves closed until the supplier inspects your system.
• If you have a heating oil tank system, contact a heating oil supplier for an inspection before using it.
• If you have determined that burying any dead animals is an appropriate method, be sure every part of the carcass is covered by at least three feet of soil; at a location not less than 100 feet from any well, spring, stream, or other surface water.
• Discard any food that may be contamined by heat, smoke fumes, chemicals, and power outages.
• Use a “particulate respirator” to help to protect your lungs during cleanup efforts, such as one that has the word “NIOSH” and either “N95” or “P100” printed on it.
• Perform a visual inspection of your well and other components which are part of your water supply system.  If you find damage, contact an appropriate contractor to repair the damage.
• If your water system has been damaged or if you are in doubt about the safety of your water, you may want to have your water tested.  Water testing kits are available from the Kittitas County Public Health Department 507 N. Nanum, Suite 102, Ellensburg, 509-962-7515 or Evergreen Valley Utilities, 301 W First St, Cle Elum, 509-674-9642.
• If you do not have water that you know is safe, use bottled water or purify the water for drinking purposes using chemical disinfection or boiling the water for at least 10 minutes.
• Inspect your septic system for damage.   If it is damaged, backing up, or malfunctioning, discontinue use and contact a septic system installer or designer for guidance and instruction.
• Tetanus is a concern for persons with both open and closed wounds, and a tetanus vaccination is recommended for all residents returning to the burn area who have not had a documented dose within the past ten years.

Download additional information: http://www2.co.kittitas.wa.us/fileUploads/press-releases/202/additional/guidance for evacuees returning to homes after fire.pdf

For more detailed information on safe clean up and health considerations when returning to your home, please see the county health dept. website at www.co.kittitas.wa.us/health

WHERE’S THE REST OF THE STORY? IT’S IN OUR PRINTED NEWSPAPER ON STANDS, IN STORES AND AT THE NKC TRIBUNE NEWSPAPER AND OFFICE SUPPLY STORE IN DAVIS PLAZA (BEHIND SAFEWAY), OR CLICK ANY HEADLINE TO ORDER A COPY ONLINE  -NEW EVERY THURSDAY

Photos available for purchase online at http://nkctribune.mycapture.com/mycapture/index.asp

Evacuation Upgrade North of Laurderdale Junction

Incident: Taylor Bridge Fire Wildfire
Released: 4 hrs. ago
Kittitas County Sheriff
Public Service Announcement
8/17/12 Taylor Bridge FirePSA 1430
Kittitas County, WA-08/17/2012 – Evacuation UPGRADE North of Lauderdale Junction.
Evacuation Level 1 North of SR 970 has been upgraded to a Level 2. Areas north of SR 970 include SwaukPrairie, Ley Road, and Hartman Road. Law Enforcement will be in the areacontacting residences.
Areas north of SR 97 to north of China Camp Lane to include Shamrock Lane and Forbes Lane, have now been upgraded to a Level 2 Evacuation.
Areas south from the following line. SR 97, from Bettas Road intersection follow the BPA Powerlineswest to the Hayward Road and SR 10 intersection have been downgraded to a Leve l2 Evacuation.
Read the full public service announcement at
http://www2.co.kittitas.wa.us/fileUploads/press-releases/204/Fire Map
1430 PM 8 17 2012.pdf.

ABLAZE-Taylor Bridge Fire consumes 22,600 acres-and still burning-front page-photos, cont. story page A6-8 (please note: a photo of Commissioner of Lands Peter Goldmark was mistakenly identified as Incident Commander Rex Reed on Page A-7. Our sincere apologies for the error and any confusion it may have caused.)

“Buddy Davis” (Tribune Office Cat) lists help options for animals impacted by the wildfire.

Air quality advisory in effect-Limit outdoor activities-front page

29-acre SR903 project: your comments requested-page A5-photo

CWU Professor caries Olympic torch-Chosen for his role of changing the world in a positive way-page B1-photo

What’s Harry Georgeson’s secret to longevity?-includes rewriting Murphy’s Law-page B1-photo

Community:

• MouseAbout Softball Tourney is all about Mouse
• Skydive at 75
• Vision-Driven:Free family movie night
• Marusa partners with Carroll to address gang intervention and If anyone can tame T.O., this man can
• Rafting trip spanwed by Facebook draws hundreds
• Warriors show well at summer camp

Cruise Cle Elum:

• Father and son built this Women’s Choice award winner-James Casassa and 1963 Ford Fairlane
• Ford man fond of family tradition-Jim DeVere and 1956 Ford F-100
• “Livin’ the Dream”-Jerry Childs and 1938 Chevy Deluxe Coup
• Rust in Peace-Marianne & Mike Peterson’s 1927 Dodge lawn art

Regional:

• Suspicious fires extinguished over weekend
• Pre-1920s Pennsylvania Avenue photo donated to City

Voices:

• Frankly Speaking-What’s wrong with my poor tomatoes, Frank?
• Letter-Jan Osmonovich-Planned garage sale items are now fire victims donations