Jeff Coffey stands in a smoke-filled room as a team of Fort Lewis firefighters works to ventilate a house and extinguish a simulated fire Aug 12.

Paramedic Chris Rhude (foreground) and firefighter Nick Jerrel prepare to enter a smoke filled room during a simulated fire exercise Aug 12.

Chris Rhude, Tracy Finch and Jeff Coffey (left to right) work to ventilate the second floor of a house and extinguish a simulated fire during an Aug 12 exercise.

Trail runner Ed Parnell will be running the 93-mile Wonderland Trail at Mount Rainier National Park next month for a charity helping special operations Soldiers. Parnell aims to complete the trail, which usually takes 10 to 14 days, in only 24 hours.

Deric Miller, 2,  and James Jordan, 5, stand holding a sign for Miller’s father Spc. James Miller before a return ceremony for the 14th Engineer Battalion, July 4.

Soldiers from the 14th Engr. Bn. are revealed from behind a curtain during a return ceremony at Wilson Sports and Fitness Center.

Carrie Miller hugs her cousin, Rachel Pacheco, as Soldiers from the 14th Engr. Bn. are revealed to waiting families and friends at a return ceremony, Saturday. Pacheco’s husband, Sgt. David Pacheco, returned with the battalion from a 15-month deployment to Iraq.

Soldiers from the 14th Engr. Bn. salute during the national anthem at a return ceremony for the battalion, July 4.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ken Sinker embraces his children, Michael and Trinity, while his wife, Susan, looks on at the return ceremony for the 14th Engr. Bn., Saturday.

Pfc. Robert Giogaia and his wife, Stephanie, embrace during the return ceremony for the 14th Engr. Bn.

Jeremy Purcell low crawls through a mud pit during the Down & Dirty 8K Mud Run behind Soldiers Field House Saturday.

Gerald Lucier crawls through one of three mud pits during the Down and Dirty 8k Mud Run Saturday.

Hammer thrower Mike Mai finished third at the U.S. national championships and will compete Aug. 15-23 at the world track and field championships in Berlin.

Brianna Ybarra prepares for prejudging before heading on stage.

A female competitor poses for judges.

Doug Stehley flexes his biceps for judges.

Matthew Johnson flexes between two competitors.

Eric Wilson poses during prejudging.

Matthew Johnson and overall men’s winner John Stockwell face off for judges.

Competitors in the women’s figure division pose for judges.

Joseph West shows his father, Staff Sgt. Matthew West of 710th EOD Co., his shirt, which reads “My Dad is My Hero.” The company returned Monday after 15 months in Iraq.

Families greet Soldiers of 710th EOD Co., June 1, as the company returned from a 15-month deployment to Iraq.

Sgt. Dennis Hammann of 551st Medical Co., 62nd Med Bde. is reflected by a mirror used to peer beneath vehicles during a tactical environment vehicle search station, one of the Warrior Tasks performed by all I Corps and Fort Lewis Soldier and NCO of the Year candidates.

Soldiers from 38th LRS Co. jump from a C-23 Sherpa onto Rogers Drop Zone at Fort Lewis May 19.

Pfc. Antoine Fields stands for an inspection of his parachute harness before a company jump.

Soldiers board a C-23 Sherpa at Gray Army Airfield before a proficiency jump May 19.

Pfc. Stephen Baynard uses a laptop to transmit surveillance information as Pvt. Lucilius Bobo stands watch during a pre-certification FTX, May 13, for the 38th LRS Co.

Sgt. Antonio Maddox (foreground) and Spc. Brandon Booth watch for enemy activity from a surveillance site.

Pvt. Nicholas Klusener sits with his team at a hide site, May 13, during the LRS Company FTX.

Spc. Brandon Booth camouflages his upper body at a surveillance site.

Two LRS Soldiers from 5th Team, 1st Detachment sit camouflaged at a hide site position.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE: http://www.nwguardian.com/103/story/5120.html