Dec 2009
Fire on Channel Road
07/12/09 17:33 Filed in: News
Fire Department saves house on coldest night of the
year
Sunday night at 8:58PM, Orcas Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a reported chimney fire at 414 Channel Road. Firefighters Dwight Guss and Seth Ybarra were first to arrive in Deer Harbor’s new “Wildland Attack Structural Protection” Engine (WASP) within six minutes of the call. Deer Harbor firefighter Robin Dyer arrived as the two entered the structure and reported the home filling with smoke, but no visible fire. It was quickly discovered that the lower level attached garage was on fire. The call was “upgraded to a structure fire” and additional units responded, including an identical WASP Engine from Westsound Station 22.
Lt. Chad Kimple took Command of the fire and ordered the garage door raised while firefighters simultaneously mounted a direct attack with compressed air foam with the Deer Harbor WASP Engine. A second crew, using a hose from the same WASP Engine, mounted an attack from the top of the interior stairwell. The fire burning under the stairs forced firefighters to back-out and change tactics.
The fire was so intense at one point; flammables and aerosol cans stored in the garage began to explode. Despite the intensity of the fire, the aggressive fire attack saved then entire house.
The fire apparently started at the chimney clean-out located in the garage.
There were several stacks of magazines up against the metal door, which burst into flames and quickly spread to wood and other flammable materials.
In all, three engines, two water tenders, Medic Unit Aid 21 and 18 firefighters responded to the call. Outlying engines and volunteers manned stations throughout the island in the event of another emergency. The Auxiliary also responded and provided warm soup and coffee for the crews braving the sub freezing wind chill that was pounding the islands throughout the night.
Sunday night at 8:58PM, Orcas Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a reported chimney fire at 414 Channel Road. Firefighters Dwight Guss and Seth Ybarra were first to arrive in Deer Harbor’s new “Wildland Attack Structural Protection” Engine (WASP) within six minutes of the call. Deer Harbor firefighter Robin Dyer arrived as the two entered the structure and reported the home filling with smoke, but no visible fire. It was quickly discovered that the lower level attached garage was on fire. The call was “upgraded to a structure fire” and additional units responded, including an identical WASP Engine from Westsound Station 22.
Lt. Chad Kimple took Command of the fire and ordered the garage door raised while firefighters simultaneously mounted a direct attack with compressed air foam with the Deer Harbor WASP Engine. A second crew, using a hose from the same WASP Engine, mounted an attack from the top of the interior stairwell. The fire burning under the stairs forced firefighters to back-out and change tactics.
The fire was so intense at one point; flammables and aerosol cans stored in the garage began to explode. Despite the intensity of the fire, the aggressive fire attack saved then entire house.
The fire apparently started at the chimney clean-out located in the garage.
There were several stacks of magazines up against the metal door, which burst into flames and quickly spread to wood and other flammable materials.
In all, three engines, two water tenders, Medic Unit Aid 21 and 18 firefighters responded to the call. Outlying engines and volunteers manned stations throughout the island in the event of another emergency. The Auxiliary also responded and provided warm soup and coffee for the crews braving the sub freezing wind chill that was pounding the islands throughout the night.
Santas Arrive!
04/12/09 17:14 Filed in: News
December 4th
2009
Mr and Mrs. Santa arrive just in the “nick” of time to greet the children of Orcas and officially open the Holiday Celebrations with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. They were delivered by elf-helpers Lt. Jeff Jones, Firefighter Steven Siler, Office Elf Lindsay Siler and Firefighter Maxx Jones in the Eastsound Engine.
Mrs. Santa gets a helping elf hand out of the biggest fire engine on Orcas Island
The celebrity couple arrived in a flurry of excitement, with plenty of paparazzi present!
Lt. Jeff Jones, Mrs. Santa, Santa and elf Steven Siler make sure the celebrating begins!
Mr and Mrs. Santa arrive just in the “nick” of time to greet the children of Orcas and officially open the Holiday Celebrations with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. They were delivered by elf-helpers Lt. Jeff Jones, Firefighter Steven Siler, Office Elf Lindsay Siler and Firefighter Maxx Jones in the Eastsound Engine.
Mrs. Santa gets a helping elf hand out of the biggest fire engine on Orcas Island
The celebrity couple arrived in a flurry of excitement, with plenty of paparazzi present!
Lt. Jeff Jones, Mrs. Santa, Santa and elf Steven Siler make sure the celebrating begins!