SEATTLE — Gary Morris, an assistant fire chief in Phoenix, has been named the new chief of the Seattle Fire Department, Mayor Paul Schell announced Thursday. Morris, 54, has been with the Phoenix Fire Department for 30 years, and currently directs the Urban Services Division. He will receive $127,000 plus benefits in his new job. Morris replaces James Sewell, who retired earlier this year to become a minister. Gregory Dean was named interim chief and will hold that job until Morris arrives. The hire must be approved by the city council. Morris’ hearing before the council has not been scheduled. He is expected to begin work in Seattle in a couple of months. Morris will oversee a $97.6 million budget and a staff of 1,123 in 33 stations.
Pilot survives plane crash: A pilot walked away with only minor injuries Thursday after an experimental plane crashed at Bremerton National Airport. John Curtis was caught in a gust of wind that caused the small plane to crash shortly before 3 p.m., according to a television news report. Curtis, who has been flying since 1956, spent five years building the plane, which was destroyed.
Solicitation charge prompts resignation: A criminal investigator for the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office has resigned after his arrest for soliciting a prostitute. Bruce Jackson, a retired Tacoma police homicide detective, was being investigated for violating ethics and personal behavior rules and improper use of a county vehicle, Pierce County officials said Thursday. The investigation began after Tacoma police arrested Jackson May 17. Officers alleged he agreed to pay an undercover officer for oral sex while driving a county car. Jackson, 51, had been placed on paid administrative leave.
Bainbridge yacht saved from sinking: A chartered yacht from Bainbridge Island apparently hit a rock and began taking on water Thursday in Chatham Strait. By Thursday afternoon, divers had made temporary repairs to the 96-foot Alaskan Song, and arrangements were being made to have it towed to Ketchikan, the Coast Guard said. Seven passengers and four crew members were on board. A Coast Guard cutter took eight people off the damaged vessel, while three crew members remained, working with the Coast Guard to try to control the flooding. The vessel’s owner is Alaska Yacht Charters of Bainbridge Island. According to the company’s Web site, the Alaskan Song is crewed by husband-and-wife team Geoff Wilson and Debbie Bennett and two other crew members. It said the vessel left Sitka on Tuesday for a cruise that was to end next Monday in Juneau.
November plane crash site located: The bodies of two men missing since November have been found inside the wreckage of their light plane, officials said Thursday. The plane carried Brian Moody, 34, owner of Baker Aircraft of Baker City, Ore., and Keith Williams, 29, of Spokane, a company biologist for Idaho Power. Williams was conducting a field survey of radio-collared mule deer. A rancher found the wreckage Monday evening in Washington County, Idaho, about 27 miles north of Weiser, according to the Oregon Civil Air Patrol.
Animal neglect charges filed: A Wimer woman faces animal neglect charges after she allegedly left hundreds of rabbits without food, water or protection from hot weather. Diane Scott was cited May 9 by Jackson County Animal Care and Control officers after neighbors reported her rabbits were screaming and foaming from the nose and mouth. Neighbors said Scott was frequently gone for several days at a time, leaving hundreds of rabbits without care. Officials estimated that Scott had about 300 rabbits. She pleaded innocent this week.
Wildfire spreads: A fast-moving fire near The Dalles grew to 200 acres by late Thursday and was threatening several structures. The Mill Creek Fire started at about 11 a.m. and was burning in a steep canyon, uncontrolled in gusty winds, according to Rod Nichols of the Oregon Department of Forestry. The agency called in two air tankers and a helicopter to drop water and fire retardant. Meanwhile, a thunderstorm Wednesday brought more than 700 lightning strikes and set off eight fires, including an 80-acre blaze that burned near a Sisters subdivision. A fire about 14 miles west of the central Oregon town of Condon that was reported after a severe thunderstorm Wednesday grew to 400 acres. The Horseshoe Bend Fire was about 70 percent contained, Giller said. Smaller fires also burned near Maupin and Fort Rock.
Stranded hiker rescued: A stranded hiker reportedly suffering from vertigo was plucked from a cliff on Steens Mountain near Burns by a Portland-based Air Force Reserve helicopter rescue crew. A hiker who was with him reportedly walked out of the area to get help for his stranded friend, said a spokeswoman for the 939th Rescue Wing, which dispatched an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter early Wednesday afternoon. The names of the hikers were not available. Air Force Reserve Staff Sgt. Rich Barnes said he was lowered to a point below the stranded hiker and climbed up to him. Both were then hoisted off the cliff.
From Herald news services
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