News Bites for June 13, 2023

SOAP LAKE — Two fire districts were brought in for a rescue at Lake Lenore Caves Sunday, according to a statement from Grant County Fire District 7.

A little before 11 a.m., GCFD 7, based in Soap Lake, was called to the park for a medical incident, according to the statement. The responding chief officer immediately reached out to GCFD 13 for the use of a Stokes litter and Stokes wheel, as well as additional personnel.

The patient was stable, according to the statement, but was located about half a mile along a rugged trail. The firefighters were able to extract the patient, and AMR Ambulance transported the patient to Columbia Basin Hospital, according to the statement. The nature of the medical incident was not given.

COULEE CITY — Sun Lakes Resort was saved from what could have been a devastating fire Sunday, according to a statement from Grant County Fire District 7.

A little before 11 p.m., GCFD 7 was called to an outdoor fire at the resort campground, the statement said. Responding firefighters found a 20x50 burn pile fully involved with sustained wind at 20 miles per hour and gusts up to 30 mph, according to the statement. The blaze posed a significant threat to a nearby shop and several cabins, the statement said.

Assistance was called in from fire districts 6 and 13, and several engines were sent out to check for spot fires and extension into buildings, according to the statement. The burn pile was extinguished with the help of about 10,000 gallons of water.

Washington State Parks and GCFD 7 are investigating the cause of the fire, the statement said.

POTHOLES RESERVOIR — A Marine View Heights man died and his body was recovered from the Potholes Reservoir late Monday morning.

“There are no obvious signs of foul play,” according to a release from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

The man has been identified and his next of kin notified but his name was not released, the GCSO release said.

Witnesses reported seeing the man’s body at about 11:20 a.m. near the Blythe boat launch, the release said.

“The man’s fishing boat was found nearby and the man’s truck and vehicle and boat trailer were parked on the boat ramp,” it said.

Emergency responders from Royal Slope Fire and Rescue and law enforcement from the GCSO and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife responded.

“Detectives are conducting a death investigation, which is routine for such an incident,” the release said

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Police Department is asking people who may have video or other information on a confrontation that resulted in shots being fired Monday afternoon to contact the department.

The incident occurred about 3 p.m. in the 900 block of West Loop Drive, according to a release from the MLPD.

“One involved vehicle was located by officers on Ridge Road with two suspects that fled on foot,” the release said.

The area was locked down and MLPD officers found and took into custody one of the two suspects, the release said. The second suspect was apprehended in the lake near the Alder Street Fill.

People who may have information on the case are asked to contact the MLPD at 509-764-3887, case No. 23ML08910.

QUINCY — A Warden man was killed when his motorcycle drifted back and ran into the car he was trying to pass about five miles west of Quincy Sunday afternoon.

Alvin Haug, 59, was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision. A Washington State Patrol press memo originally said Haug was not wearing a helmet, but later the release was updated to say it was unknown whether or not he had a helmet.

Haug was driving east on State Route 28 at about 5:30 p.m. when he attempted to pass a vehicle driven by Max Gould, 28, Quincy, according to the WSP memo. Haug drifted back into the eastbound lane, hitting Gould’s car. The motorcycle came to rest in the eastbound ditch, the memo said.