Feb 19th thru the 26th, Orcas Fire & Rescue responded to: 1 illegal burn - 1 automatic fire alarm - 1 boat fire at Westsound - 9 medical calls in which only resulted in off-island transport by AirLift NW.

Orcas Island Fire & Rescue has Bike and All Sport Helmets available at the Eastsound Fire Station. The helmets are custom fit to your head! Stay smart - Protection your brain!

Westsound Boat Fire (by Chad Kimple)

Orcas Fire & Rescue responded to a boat fire at Westsound marina on February 20th at 1:23 pm. Engine 22 (westsound) arrived within 5 minutes of the call followed by Engine 21 and Rescue 21 (Eastsound) at 15 minuets from the call. Crews with help of Westsound Marina boat owners extended hose lines on the dock to protect the two exposed boats which were beginning to burn. The vessel which was fully involved drifted away from the dock and free burned for 15 minutes before the Friday Harbor Fire Dept fire boat ‘Confidence’ arrived. US Coat Guard was called to assist the fire boat in suppression. No one was on board. “All of our crews and the marina residents worked very well together from preventing a single boat fire from spreading into a marina fire,” stated Incident Commander, Lt. Chad Kimple. CThe cause of the fire is under investigation.

Stop Fire before it Starts!!! Orcas Island Grade School K- 6 participated in a variety of Fire Prevention courses. Grades 1 through 5 toured the new San Juan County tabletop Hazard House and grade 6 got hands-on Fire Extinguisher training with live fire. Kindergarten student Caleb Woods got a chance to try out as a firefighter when Capt. Bob Nutt and Maxx Jones visited his classroom. Students will be participating in a Home Hazard Homework Contest to share their safety training with grown-up to make Orcas a safer place. These programs are sponsored by Orcas Island Fire & Rescue and the San Juan County

February 13 to the 19th, Orcas Fire & Rescue responded to; one chimney fire, 2 non-injury traffic accidents, 9 medical calls in which 3 resulted in off-island transport by Airlift NW and one via the Sheriff’s boat.

Follow Up on the Chimayo Fire
With the recent fire at one of our local restaurants due to spontaneous combustion, County businesses have been asking how they can prevent the same thing from happing to them. The most important point to make is that these fires are extremely rare. However there are some things you can do to lower the chance of ever having one.

Do not put items that have been spotted or soaked with vegetable oil or cooking oil in the dryer. They are a fire hazard. Oil – affected items can ignite spontaneously, especially when exposed to heat sources such as in a tumble dryer. The items become warm causing an oxidation reaction in the oil. This oxidation creates heat. If the heat cannot escape, the items can become hot enough to catch fire. Piling, stacking or storing oil – affected items can prevent heat from escaping creating a fire hazard.

If it is unavoidable that fabrics that contain vegetable oil or cooking oil must be placed in a tumble dryer, wash them first in hot water with extra detergent – this will reduce, but not eliminate the fire hazard. Use the Air Dry cycle of the dryer to reduce the temperature of these items. Do not remove them from the tumble dryer or pile or stack them while they are still hot. All clothes should go through the cool down/airing phase of the cycle.

Please remember the main reason we do fire and life safety inspections in our business community is to keep you, your customers and your lively hood safe from fire


Sincerely,
Robert Low, Fire Marshal
1011 Mullis St
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
378-FIRE