Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue

06/02/2026

River temps today:
💧Cowlitz- 66 degrees
💧Columbia- 61 degrees
💧Kalama- 52 degrees

The water is cold even when the weather is is hot! Wear a life jacket if you are cooling off in natural water ways today!

06/01/2026

Did you know that the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross have updated their first aid steps for choking victims?

For someone who is choking, cannot cough, speak, cry or breath, and conscious, start with 5 back blows.

For adults and children over 1 year old, alternate 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until the blockage is cleared or the person goes unconscious.

For infants, alternate 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts until the blockage is cleared or the person goes unconscious.

Anyone who has had a complete airway blockage due to choking should see a doctor.

05/28/2026

Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue is recruiting volunteers and interns! Visit www.c2fr.org/volunteer for more information. Applications due June 1, 2026.

05/28/2026

CDID No. 1, under oversight from the EPA and Washington Department of Ecology, has resumed pumping operations at the Reynolds Way Industrial Pumping Station. The purpose of this operation is to draw contaminated water away from nearby sloughs, residential areas, and the City’s water supply system.

As part of this effort, City water crews are conducting hydrant flushing operations to add additional clean water into the stormwater drainage system, which flows into the ditch system. This added water helps prevent contaminated water from flowing back toward town. The City is also diverting water from the Cowlitz River intake structure into Ditch 3 to increase water flow through the system.

Residents in areas where flushing is occurring may notice temporary drops in water pressure while crews are working. Water crews will continue operations into the evening as part of these protective measures.

The City’s drinking water remains safe to drink and is continuously monitored. The hydrant flushing operations are part of a proactive effort to protect waterways and the community’s water system.

The public is asked to avoid drainage ditches and waterways in the affected areas while operations are underway.

05/27/2026