Fire Department responds to drill

Fire drills are a good idea. Pushing only the “test” button on the alarm system also is a good idea.

“That will prevent the big red truck from responding,” said Deputy Fire Marshal Bill Clifford, spokesman for the Spokane Valley Fire Department.

Two trucks were well on their way to Horizon Middle School Wednesday morning when a dispatcher called the school and learned a fire drill was in progress.

“We don’t want to discourage them from having their drills,” Clifford said, but the department encourages institutions to call ahead when they’re having a drill.

Wednesday’s incident was among 248 to which the department responded in a seven-day period ending that evening.

Other calls included two illegal backyard trash fires.

“We educated them and put their fires out,” Clifford said.

The area is under wildfire-related restrictions that limit outdoor burning to barbecues and chimney-style fire pots, but it’s never legal to burn trash.

Clifford said firefighters also responded to nine minor structure fires and two minor vehicle fires.

Four hazardous-materials calls also proved unfounded or minor.

In addition to 193 calls for emergency medical service, firefighters responded to 21 vehicle accidents in which four people were taken to hospitals with moderate injuries – mostly neck and back pain.

Rounding out a slow week, only one child was accidentally locked in a car.

Chamber holds candidate forums

The Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce has scheduled two more public candidate forums.

The chamber already has conducted a forum for 4th District House of Representative candidates, and now will turn to state Senate and Spokane County commissioner races.

A forum on Tuesday will feature incumbent Republican 4th District state Sen. Bob McCaslin and his Democratic challenger, Liberty Lake City Councilwoman Judi Owens.

Then, on Sept. 23, incumbent Spokane County Commissioners Todd Mielke and Mark Richard will appear with their respective challengers, former Spokane Regional Health District Director Kim Thorburn and Liberty Lake City Councilman Brian Sayrs. Richard and Mielke are Republicans; Sayrs and Owens are Democrats.

Each luncheon session will start at 11:30 a.m. at Percy’s Cafe Americana, 10512 E. Sprague Ave.

To reserve tickets, at $20 apiece, call the chamber at 924-4994. More information is available at www.spokanevalleychamber .org.

Comstock

Holistic fair today at Unity Church

The Peace and Healing Holistic Fair will be today at Spokane Unity Church, 2900 S. Bernard St., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event will include 28 vendors offering services such as readings from medical and spiritual intuitives, art, life coaching, Tai Chi, massage therapy, quantum biofeedback, hypnotherapy, chiropractic care, Reiki, exercise classes, nutritional products, and more.

Natural Start Bakery will sell organic coffee and bakery goods made from local products and local musician Todd Milne will play a bamboo flute.

For more information Dr. Pat Dougherty at 327-4373.

From staff reports