Fire blotter: Homeless encampment fire
Published 3:13 pm Friday, May 15, 2026
Between May 4 and May 10, the Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to the following calls for service, among many others.
Injury accident: 5:24 p.m. May 4 (Auburn). Firefighters responded to a multi-vehicle collision on SR 167, where they evaluated one driver for multiple injuries and then transported the driver to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center for further care.
Aid call: 9:27 p.m. May 5 (Auburn). Firefighters responded to reports of a vehicle off the roadway in a marshy area, and the driver in the throes of a medical emergency. The driver was conscious, and there was no damage to the vehicle, so they treated the driver on scene before transporting the person to MultiCare Auburn Medical Center for further care.
Service call: May 6 (Auburn). A malfunctioning child lock prevented an individual from accessing an apartment, so firefighters used a ladder truck to access a fifth-floor balcony and safely unlock the apartment door.
Accident: 8:20 a.m. May 7 (Auburn). Fire crews at the scene of a two-car collision determined that the driver of one vehicle may have experienced a medical emergency prior to colliding with another moving vehicle at a high rate of speed. Firefighters transported that driver to a local hospital for further evaluation. No serious injuries reported.
Automatic fire alarm: 11:55 a.m. May 8 (Auburn). Firefighters investigated an automatic fire alarm activation at a local industrial complex and found no fire emergency, determining instead that exhaust from a nearby generator had probably activated the alarm.
Aid call: 4:35 p.m. May 9 (Lakeland Hills). Firefighters responded to an adult experiencing a mental health crisis. Firefighters evaluated the patient on scene, and Auburn Police facilitated transport for further care, and a private ambulance transported the person to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.
Homeless encampment fire: 4:38 p.m. May 10 (Auburn). Firefighters responded to reports of a fire in a wooded area. Crews located a homeless encampment approximately 20 feet by 20 feet that was actively burning. Firefighters extinguished the fire before it could spread to nearby trees and brush.
