Jan 2009
Car Crash on Orcas Road
27/01/09 10:59 Filed in: Vehicular
Accident
Orcas Fire
responded to a reported head on collision at 6:50 am
January 26th near Victorian Valley Road. They
stabilized an 89 year old patient with facial
lacerations and possible internal injuries who was
then flown to St. Joseph's Hospital by AirLift
Northwest. According to reports, the late model sedan
was traveling towards the ferry landing when it side
swiped an oncoming truck. The glancing blow caused
the car to then swerve into oncoming traffic again
where it hit a second pick up truck nearly head on.
Traffic was blocked for nearly an hour. Fire
responded with Eastsound's Rescue 21, Aid 21, Deer
Harbor Truck 24 and 12 responders.
Driver was removed from vehicle and flown to St. Joe’s Hospital in Bellingham WA.
Apparent lack of seatbelt may have contributed to facial lacerations.
Driver was removed from vehicle and flown to St. Joe’s Hospital in Bellingham WA.
Apparent lack of seatbelt may have contributed to facial lacerations.
Runs for 1-16 to 22
24/01/09 11:08 Filed in: Run Report
January 16th
to the 23rd Orcas Fire & Rescue responded to: one
chimney fire – two reports of smoke in area – one
accidental and one intentional false fire alarm - 2
single vehicle crashes, neither with serious injury –
a fire in an Eastsound Restaurant – one medical
citizen assist – 9 medical calls in which one
resulted in an off-island transport by AirLift NW and
two via the Sherriff’s boat.
A reminder that you can get your Fire Extinguisher(s) serviced at the Eastsound Fire Station on the second Thursday of each month. Knowing how to use an extinguisher can often prevent a small fire from destroying a home or vehicle. If you would like more information on extinguisher use or service, contact Orcas Fire & Rescue at 376-2331 or check out the web site at www.orcasfire.org.
A reminder that you can get your Fire Extinguisher(s) serviced at the Eastsound Fire Station on the second Thursday of each month. Knowing how to use an extinguisher can often prevent a small fire from destroying a home or vehicle. If you would like more information on extinguisher use or service, contact Orcas Fire & Rescue at 376-2331 or check out the web site at www.orcasfire.org.
Restaurant Fire In Eastsound
23/01/09 16:32 Filed in: Structure
Fires
Orcas Fire and Rescue responded to a report of smoke throughout the Our House Mall building at just after 6:30 am Friday morning. Eastsound Engine 21 arrived on scene and was directed to Chimayo’s at the back of the building. A witness reported seeing fire on the floor in the restaurant. The Westsound Engine arrived with Ian Wareham who immediately hooked into a hydrant to increase the amount of water available to fight fire. Division Chief Mik Preysz took command and directed Lt. Jeff Jones to force open the back door. Then Ian and Capt. Max Jones entered to find a large burning hole in the floor of the main dining area. Temperatures in the building were extremely high causing a ceiling fan to melt. They quickly extinguished the fire while several other firefighters checked the adjoining shops and offices.
Melted ceiling fan
Heavy smoke and soot blackened the restaurant and pushed smoke throughout the entire building. Due to the building's multiple shops, offices and its' location near the heart of the village, there was a large response of equipment and manpower. Engines from Rosario, Obstruction Pass and Orcas plus two water tankers and the rescue unit were on scene with 15 firefighters: George Schermerhorn, Kevin McCoy, Dean Dougherty, Jim Schuh, Gregg Bronn, Mark VanMaren, Bob Nutt, Rich Harvey, Rick Anda and Mike Macksey. County Fire Marshal Bob Low determined the cause of the fire to be spontaneous combustion from a basket of freshly laundered kitchen towels set on a chair at closing time. The oil residue in the linen spontaneously caught fire, which spread to the floor when the chair burned through.
Car Fire in Eastsound
15/01/09 17:03 Filed in: Car Fire
Orcas Fire & Rescue responded to a reported vehicle fire at 8 North Beach Road. Eastsound Engine 21, Med 21 and Rescue 21 arrived to find smoke coming out from under the hood of a parked car. The firefighters quickly popped the hood and discovered the engine compartment had somehow caught fire. AS dry chemical extinguisher was used to extinguish the fire and then firefighters rinsed the chemical off the engine. The owner arrived and the scene was cleared.
Runs for 12-25 to 1-8-09
10/01/09 15:51 Filed in: Run Report
December 25
2008 to Jan 8, 2009 Orcas Fire and Rescue responded
to: 4 fire alarm activations, 3 caused by water – a
large structure fire - 1 roadside citizen assist-
Medical stand by for the Polar Bear Swim - 2 outdoor
burning issues which were then handled by the fire
marshal’s office - 2 smell of burning electrical
issues - 2 injury/trauma calls - 2 breathing problems
and 6 medical emergencies, resulted in off-island
transport by AirLift NW and another via Sheriff’s
boat. Winter weather creates additional fire danger
and health risks due to power outages, changes in
day-to-day routines, adverse driving conditions and
limited access to medical facilities on the mainland.
Please us help you by taking precautions like using battery powered flashlight instead of candles, insuring you have a working smoke alarm in your home and being prepared for self-sufficiency of at least 3 days. For more information on ways to prepared, check our website at www.orcasfire.org and click on preparedness.
Please us help you by taking precautions like using battery powered flashlight instead of candles, insuring you have a working smoke alarm in your home and being prepared for self-sufficiency of at least 3 days. For more information on ways to prepared, check our website at www.orcasfire.org and click on preparedness.
Home Fire Threatens Barn
09/01/09 12:29 Filed in: Structure
Fires
At 5:41 pm Thursday evening, Orcas Island Fire & Rescue responded to a reported structure fire at 180 West Beach Road. First on scene was Division Chief Patrick Shepler, who reported the structure fully involved and threatening a near by barn. Eastsound Engine 21 arrived within 9 minutes, just as a second alarm was called. Westsound’s Engine 22 and Water Tender were quickly on scene, followed by Orcas Engine 26 and Rosario’s Engine 23. Firefighters aggressively attacked the fire while others gained access to the barn by prying boards from the south side. The interior crew used compressed air foam to stop the fire from entering the barn just as flames started scorching paint cans stored inside. In all, 27 fire and rescue members worked to extinguish the fire and the fire was declared under control at approximately 6:50 pm. Firefighters remained on scene working for an additional 2.5 hours. The Auxiliary also responded with food for the fire crew and clothing for the residents who escaped unharmed but lost everything in the home, which was a total loss.
Letter From Chief Harris
06/01/09 17:00 Filed in: Letters to the
Editor
2008
celebrated our 60th year of service as the Orcas
Island Fire Department. 2009 marks the start of our
next 60 years! And we are taking the opportunity that
the New Year provides to re-dedicate our services to
the community with improvements. First, we have added
to our name to reflect the services beyond
firefighting and prevention. For over 30 years our
EMT’s and Paramedics have delivered some of the
finest Emergency Medical Services in the region. EMS
is our most important service and we embrace that
fact by adding “Rescue” to our name. Orcas Island
Fire & Rescue represents all of our services and
that we respond to “All of Life’s Hazards” from home
medical emergencies to wild fire as well as to
vehicle crash rescue, hazardous material incidents,
cliff and water rescue plus the simple “Please help
me!” calls.
Our new logo emphasizes our past, present and future. Red & black are the most dominate native American colors and these colors denotes the island's native American heritage. The four-sided "Maltese Cross" is the traditional fire service emblem with its heritage from the Knights of Malta as protectors of the weak. The traditional logo of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is the six-legged "Star of Life". Ours sits in front of its strong Maltese "foundation" and it is red instead of blue to emphasize that the delivery of EMS on Orcas is fire service based. The Latin script across the banner emphasizes safety and proclaims that "Everyone Goes Home". And finally the abbreviated "Established 1948" records our tradition of service.
In 2008, our department was intensely scrutinized and criticized. This was both health and in many ways even productive. Many of you stepped forward when this process verged on destructive. And for the first time in my career, I was placed in the position of defending excellence and it’s cost. We want to thank the “Not So Silent Majority” and the vocal minority for helping us to create what we feel is the best Emergency Service in the county.
Within the last 6 months, the Board of Commissioners approved my request for a $2000 miracle drug, which we now carry on our ambulances. And during the worst snowstorm in recent history, not only did we use this drug to save a life that person is able to return to work with almost no heart damage. During the same storm, 20 members worked all night to save a home on fire. Hose lines froze solid and personnel fell many times on the ice. The heroic effort is un-duplicated in my 35 years with the fire service.
Along side of these calls with good outcomes, we suffered one of the worst calls with a life changing injury to a young man who was snowboarding. I have two young sons and identify with this tragedy but I am confident that he received excellent care that could not have been exceeded, even on the mainland.
For the past and present, I must thank all of our members (past and present) as well as those who have just recently joined the recruit academy to volunteer for YOU. On behalf of the Members, Officers and Commissioners, I wish to thank the community for their support and offer my members and the Orcas community my hope for a better New Year.
Sincerely
Chief Mike Harris
Orcas Island Fire & Rescue
Our new logo emphasizes our past, present and future. Red & black are the most dominate native American colors and these colors denotes the island's native American heritage. The four-sided "Maltese Cross" is the traditional fire service emblem with its heritage from the Knights of Malta as protectors of the weak. The traditional logo of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is the six-legged "Star of Life". Ours sits in front of its strong Maltese "foundation" and it is red instead of blue to emphasize that the delivery of EMS on Orcas is fire service based. The Latin script across the banner emphasizes safety and proclaims that "Everyone Goes Home". And finally the abbreviated "Established 1948" records our tradition of service.
In 2008, our department was intensely scrutinized and criticized. This was both health and in many ways even productive. Many of you stepped forward when this process verged on destructive. And for the first time in my career, I was placed in the position of defending excellence and it’s cost. We want to thank the “Not So Silent Majority” and the vocal minority for helping us to create what we feel is the best Emergency Service in the county.
Within the last 6 months, the Board of Commissioners approved my request for a $2000 miracle drug, which we now carry on our ambulances. And during the worst snowstorm in recent history, not only did we use this drug to save a life that person is able to return to work with almost no heart damage. During the same storm, 20 members worked all night to save a home on fire. Hose lines froze solid and personnel fell many times on the ice. The heroic effort is un-duplicated in my 35 years with the fire service.
Along side of these calls with good outcomes, we suffered one of the worst calls with a life changing injury to a young man who was snowboarding. I have two young sons and identify with this tragedy but I am confident that he received excellent care that could not have been exceeded, even on the mainland.
For the past and present, I must thank all of our members (past and present) as well as those who have just recently joined the recruit academy to volunteer for YOU. On behalf of the Members, Officers and Commissioners, I wish to thank the community for their support and offer my members and the Orcas community my hope for a better New Year.
Sincerely
Chief Mike Harris
Orcas Island Fire & Rescue