Disclaimer
Orcas
Island Fire Department exists to serve the community by
preventing and fighting fires and by providing exceptional
emergency medical care.
The department is staffed by a small full-time staff of
firefighters and paramedics and a large force of volunteer
firefighters and EMT’s. Other services, such as providing a
web site unfortunately take second place. Like all modern
departments we are dependent on a mixture of private
consultants and our staff to provide IT and Web services.
All our staff have training and other obligation.
We strive to make as much information available as possible
through our web site, since it saves both
us and
you valuable
time. However we cannot guarantee that the web site will be
current at all times, nor that updates such as current
minutes will be posted. We aim to provide the best and most
up-to-date information, but again there are no guarantees.
Public
Information
Since
the fire department is a public agency we are governed by
Washington State RCWs (Revised Code of Washington) with
regard to public information. The state defines certain
information as ‘public’ - meaning that the public has a
right to see that information. This data includes budgets,
planning documents, payroll figures etc. Certain
information, such as Commissioners Meetings Executive
Sessions, medical data, staff data and more are not
available to the public.
Public
Records Requests
As a
service to the public we aim to make most public data
available on the web site as time and funds allow. This is
provided as a service to the public and is not required by
law.
In the event that data is not available you may make a
‘public records’ request. This may be made by email,
telephone, letter or personal visit to the fire station
during business hours. If the data is not publicly
available you will be informed and given the reason - such
as confidential patient medical records. If the information
can be made available the department will do so in a
‘reasonable’ time. Depending on the amount of the data this
may take a few days or longer.
The department may at its discretion choose the format of
the data to be provided (paper, CD, email, etc.) and may
legally choose to make a modest charge to defray costs
where necessary.
Orcas Island Fire & Rescue:
PO Box 217, Eastsound WA 98245 • Call (360) 376 2331