Here and Now
A burning issue

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The agency has issued an advisory to encourage property owners to protect their homes and communities from wildfires:

• Before burning debris, residents are encouraged to call 800-323-BURN (2876) or visit the department's fire-conditions page online at www.dnr.wa.gov.

• Homeowners may be eligible for a free risk assessment. Call 888-783-9548, or go to www.firewise.org/wa online.

• Information about how to protect homes by using fire-safe landscaping is at extension.oregonstate.edu/deschutes/FireResPlants.pdf online.

Today

• Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels will hold a Youth Town Hall to field questions from young people from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St., at Seattle Center.

• A meeting for people curious about becoming adoptive parents in open adoptions will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Open Adoption and Family Services, 1737 N.W. 56th St., Suite 102. Information: 206-782-0442.

Tomorrow

Seattle's transportation department will hold an open house to discuss replacing the Fremont Bridge approaches. The session will be from 5 to 8 p.m. in the B.F. Day Elementary School cafeteria, 3921 Linden Ave. N. After 86 years of use, the bridge's north and south approaches have deteriorated significantly and need replacing, transportation planners say.

Can you help?
 
King County Animal Control needs volunteers to provide temporary foster care to sick, injured and young cats and dogs. Volunteers must be at least 17 or have the permission and assistance of a parent or guardian. A one-hour training session for prospective volunteers is scheduled at 6 p.m. Thursday at the county's animal shelter at 21615 64th Ave. S. in Kent. Information: 206-296-4015.

Traffic watch

Interstate 90: All lanes of I-90 in both directions will be closed by early tomorrow near Highway 900 in Issaquah while girders for a recently widened Highway 900 bridge over the freeway are set in place. Lane closures will begin at 7 p.m., and all eastbound lanes will be closed by just after midnight tonight; all westbound lanes and the northbound Highway 900 loop ramp to westbound I-90 will be closed by 1 a.m. Traffic will be detoured.

Also, eastbound I-90 lanes in Issaquah's Tibbetts Creek area will be shifted and restriped, starting tomorrow night. The shifted lanes will move traffic away from the median and onto the completed portion of the new eastbound bridge. Tomorrow night, up to three lanes of eastbound I-90 will be closed for the shift. The car-pool lane will close at 7 p.m.; another lane at 8, and the last lane by 11 p.m. Two lanes will reopen by 6 the next morning. The work, however, depends on favorable weather.

Here & Now is compiled by Seattle Times staff reporter Charles E. Brown and news assistant Suesan Whitney Henderson.

To submit an item, e-mail herenow@seattletimes.com or call 206-464-2226.