The Associated Press OLYMPIA — Washington state says the Federal Aviation Administration has given it authorization to use an unmanned drone to monitor wildfires that pose an urgent threat. Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark said Tuesday that the additional “real-time information” will make things safer for firefighters. The state Legislature earlier this year gave the state Department of…

The Associated Press SELAH, Yakima County — The 15-square-mile wildfire near Selah is no longer threatening any homes. Janet Pearce of the state Department of Natural Resources says favorable winds on Tuesday night pushed the flames away from homes and toward the Yakima River. Pearce says the fire has burned one outbuilding, but no other structures. There are…

The Associated Press BAINBRIDGE ISLAND — Washington state officials may take custody of a boat that sank in a Bainbridge Island harbor. The Kitsap Sun reported Thursday that officials are taking action because they say the owner hasn’t taken responsibility of the tugboat Chickamauga. The state Department of Natural Resources intends to take custody of the boat in mid-January….

A second helicopter has joined the battle to contain a fire on Mount Si. Although the size of the fire grew from 2 acres Friday to 11 or 12 acres by Saturday afternoon, state Department of Natural Resources dispatcher Doreen Smith said the helicopters’ water drops have been effective in “holding the fire in check at…

A state Department of Natural Resources diver was high on cocaine when he drowned off Bainbridge Island on July 24, according to the Bainbridge Island police. Police said the death certificate for 24-year-old David Scheinost indicates the cause of death was “salt water drowning” with a contributing factor being “acute cocaine intoxication.” The certificate was…

Fire crews could have the Taylor Bridge Fire 25 percent contained by the end of the day, a cautious fire official said late this morning. “I think we’re going to make some significant gains in containing the fire today,” said fire incident commander Rex Reed. Reed said he is “cautiously optimistic that we might be in the…

Fighting the wildfire burning between Cle Elum and Ellensburg will be from the air this afternoon, say state officials, because the ever-expanding blaze is moving too fast to fight it on the ground. In a perfect world, said Bryan Flint, chief spokesman with the Department of Natural Resources, the best way to fight the…

A bridge construction crew working east of Cle Elum is believed to have caused the raging Taylor Bridge wildfire that  has burned 60 homes and nearly 26,000 acres and continues to spread, according to a spokeswoman at the fire scene. More details about the cause of the fire weren’t immediately available from the…