Pierce County fire investigators continue to look into what sparked a blaze Thursday inside a closed-down feed mill in Midland.

Investigators have not been able to spend much time combing through the rubble inside the old Midland Feed Mill near Portland Avenue East because its not structurally sound,  Central Pierce Fire & Rescue spokesman Matt Holm said Friday.

The mill, which stopped operating in the mid-1990s, is a collapse hazard and will be demolished because of the damage done by Thursday morning’s fire.  Crews have closed 17th Avenue East between 97th and 99th streets East until the four-story structure …

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A 52-year-old Lakewood woman charged after she failed to report an apartment fire that killed her neighbor has pleaded guilty in the case.

Lisa Ann Horton pleaded guilty this morning to second-degree manslaughter and first-degree arson. The prosecutor and Horton’s attorney agreed to recommend a sentence of three years. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Vicki Hogan imposed the recommendation.

The Dec. 22 fire killed 63-year-old Aida Vilog, who had immigrated to the United States from the Philippines two weeks before her death to marry her long-time sweetheart. The two married Dec. 10.

Firefighters were called to the Village Apartments, 4210 …

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A collision is blocking the two left lanes of southbound Interstate 5 at the state Rout 16 interchange, the state DOT reported. Current backup, combined with earlier congestion in the area, is three miles to the Puyallup River Bridge.

The accident happened around 1:15 p.m. Friday afternoon at milepost 132.

Fire and aid are on the scene and the State Patrol is en route.

Update: The roadway was cleared at 1:35 p.m. Backup from the accident, combined with earlier congestion, reached four miles to Port of Tacoma Road exit.

A collision is blocking the right lane of northbound Interstate 5 at L Street in Tacoma, the state DOT reported. The accident happened around 12:55 p.m at milepost 134.

Fire and aid are on scene. The State Patrol and WSDOT Incident Response are en route.

UPDATE: The roadway was cleared at 1:30 p.m. The backup from the accident, combined with earlier congestion, stretched four miles to the 72nd Street exit.

A disabled vehicle is blocking the right center lane of eastbound state Route 16 on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the state DOT is reporting.

The incident happened around noon on Friday. WSDOT Incident Response and State Patrol responded to the scene.

The roadway was cleared at 12:30 p.m.

Pierce County has a new medical examiner.

Executive Pat McCarthy announced today that Dr. Thomas B. Clark III, who’s worked in North Carolina for the past 23 years, will take over as the county’s chief medical examiner Tuesday. The Pierce County Council needs to confirm the appointment.

Clark has served for the past eight years as the deputy chief medical examiner for North Carolina’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, according to a Pierce County press release. Previously, he was an associate chief in the office.

Clark’s expertise is in forensic pathology and data management. He managed the development of …

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A crash is blocking the left lane of northbound Interstate 5 in Tacoma, the state DOT reports.

The crash is just south of Pacific Avneue.

Troopers and transportation crews are headed to the scene.

UPDATE: The crash has been cleared to the right shoulder and the lane reopened to traffic. Drivers are backed up one mile to the state Route 16 interchange.

Meanwhile, a second crash is now blocking the two left lanes of southbound I-5 at the Tacoma Dome, the state DOT reports. Firefighters and medical aid are on the scene, DOT reports.

Troopers are on their way to …

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Crews have closed the westbound direction of the Boeing Access Road to northbound Airport Way in Tukwila after a truck spilled its load of large wooden beams, Tukwila police reported.

The accident occurred about 6 a.m. The truck hit a barrier, then spilled its load onto the roadway, police reported.

No one was injured. Crews are working to clean up the beams.

The road could be closed until at least 1 p.m. today, police reported.