Clark firefighters rescue 3 near Cougar

Lavon Wheatley, from left in boat, Leanne Church and Steve Church are rescued from their homes near Cougar after Speelyai Creek flooded all escape routes, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. Vancouver Fire Heavy Rescue 81, Fire District 6 Technical Rescue and Engine 71 from Cougar helped with the rescue. (Steven Lane/The Columbian)

Lavon Wheatley is rescued from her home near Cougar after Speelyai Creek flooded all escape routes. (Steven Lane/The Columbian)

Firefighters from Vancouver and Clark County Fire District 6 used special rescue equipment on Wednesday to save an elderly woman and her two tenants from a homestead near Cougar, along Highway 503 in southern Cowlitz County. The woman's house had been surrounded by rapidly flowing water three feet deep, according to a witness, Columbian photographer Steven Lane.

Farther downstream, Woodland was under a flood warning as Pacificorp began releasing water from its Lewis River hydroelectric reservoirs. A temporary sea wall was erected in an attempt to keep the water from the town, much of which lies in a flood hazard area.

Many roads remain closed in Western Washington tonight. Farther north, Interstate 5 is closed - and will be - for a number of days in Lewis County. Amtrak announced service was suspended between Vancouver and points north.

Horizon Air announced it would offer $119 one-way walk-up fares between Portland and Seattle to help people trapped in the wrong city by the storm.

In Clark County, 26 students had to make other arrangements to get home from school after Columbia Tie Road was closed in north Clark County. Another problem was reported on Buncombe Hollow Road.

Rain is forecast to taper off today but river levels can still rise, according to the National Weather Service.

Please check with the WSDOT for closures and approximate reopening times at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts/.