Cedar roof adds fuel to house fire

NEWCASTLE — Bellevue firefighters battled an intense blaze Tuesday night that could be seen for miles as flames consumed the chimney, attic and cedar-shake roof of a Newcastle home in the 6900 block of 119th Place Southeast.

A man who was the sole resident of the home was burning tree limbs in his fireplace, and the fire spread to the chimney, said Mike Daily, a battalion chief with the Bellevue Fire Department. "What he was doing wasn't illegal but it is ill-advised," Daily said. "It's like throwing a dry Christmas tree on a fire — it burns way hotter than a typical wood fire."

The man was not harmed. Firefighters arrived just after 9:30 p.m., but by then flames had spread to the roof. "Cedar-shake roofs — people love them but we hate 'em," Daily said. "The wood-shake roof really contributed to the growth and visibility of this fire."

Damage is estimated at $200,000.

Countywide-monorail backers scale down, refile initiative

KING COUNTY — Citizens for King County Monorail yesterday refiled an initiative to create a planning commission for a suburban monorail system that would link Seattle with East and South King County.

The original initiative was filed March 24 with the clerk of the Metropolitan King County Council. But it was kicked back to the group for technical tweaking, such as printing size and word usage. The group also made other changes, including reducing the requested funding for the two-year planning project from $8.8 million to $6.4 million.

If the initiative is accepted and a ballot title assigned, Citizens for King County Monorail will have 90 days to collect just over 45,000 signatures to place the measure on the ballot, possibly in November. If voters approved it, a commission would be formed to draw up designs for the 59-mile system. The final plan would then go back to voters. Supporters estimate a countywide monorail would cost $5 billion.

Athletes in Riverview district to pay participation fees

CARNATION — The Riverview School Board unanimously approved sports-participation fees at the middle- and high-school levels this week.

Students will pay $30 per sport at Tolt Middle School and $65 per sport at Cedarcrest High School. Students participating in more than one sport will pay no more than $60 per year at Tolt and $70 at Cedarcrest.

Schools Superintendent Conrad Robertson said the fees will pay for an athletic-trainer position at the high school and new football and girls soccer programs at Tolt.

City of Snoqualmie celebrating its 100th birthday this weekend

SNOQUALMIE — The city will celebrate its 100th birthday this weekend with a day of food, music, vintage cars and a laser light show.

The festivities will kick off at 7 a.m. Saturday at Salish Lodge with a country breakfast selling for $19.03, for the year of incorporation.

The rest of the activities are free, including hot dogs, chips and pop at a community picnic at 4 p.m. in Railroad Park. Horse-drawn wagon rides will be available, and a car show will take place at Snoqualmie Middle School.

Several bands will perform near Sandy Cove Park from 4 to 9 p.m., and there will be a laser light show at 9:30 p.m.

For more information, call 425-888-1555.