Jun 2009
Children's House Visits
26/06/09 16:17 Filed in: Kids
Kiyomi Farish and 25 other pre-school students from Children’s House visited the Eastsound Fire Station this last week as part of Fire Prevention Education. The “Junior Firefighters” learned about life at the fire station, the special gear needed to stay safe and the emergency response vehicles.
Runs for 6-19 to 6-25
26/06/09 16:16 Filed in: Run Report
June 19 to
25, Orcas Fire & Rescue responded to: 2 falls, 10
medical emergencies and 1 hysterical reaction to pop
star M. Jackson’s death - all which resulted in 6
AirLift NW transports. This week’s 13
emergencies required a total of 61 responses by
individual members. The average medical call takes 1
paramedic and 2-3 additional responders and can last
anywhere from 45 minutes to several hours. Thank you
volunteers for ALL THE HOURS you take off from work,
sleep and family time for our community.
Orcas Fire Honors Heros
19/06/09 15:59 Filed in: Awards
Capt. Maxx Jones and Chief Mike Harris present the Guardian Angel Pin to Mathew Mullen for his call to 911 for his mother.
Orcas Fire & Rescue presented 2 Red Helmet Awards at the Orcas Elementary School’s last assembly on Thursday. The first was given to Mackey Carndinale for calling 911 on April 11th 2009 when a mobile home near his house caught fire. Thanks to his quick thinking, the firefighters were able to respond quickly and save the structure from complete destruction. The second award was presented to Mathew Mullen who when faced with the hardest moment anyone can face, reacted quickly and called 911 for his mother. Mathew was also presented with the first Orcas Fire & Rescue Guardian Angel pin for his courage.
Red Helmet Award presented to Mackey Cardinell for quick action.
Red Helmet Award presented to Mathew Mullen for courage.
Runs for 6-11 to 6-18
19/06/09 15:58 Filed in: Run Report
June 11 to
18, Orcas Fire & Rescue responded to: 3 burn
investigations, 2 illegal burns, on-going patrols for
the Bobbyann Wildland Fire in Westsound, a wildland
fire which threatened a home, 1 possible electrical
fire, 1 alarm activation, 2 patient assists, 3
traumas, and 5 medical emergencies which resulted in
4 off-island transports via AirLift
NW.
Another WIldfire on Orcas
17/06/09 16:36 Filed in: Wildland
Fires
Another Wildland Fire on Orcas!
Aaron Patten was in a boat on his way back from Blakely Island when he noticed a lot of smoke on Deer Point. He quickly docked and found the source. It was a hillside on fire, just below a home. He got help from Seth Ybarra, who was working nearby and they both fought the fire with the homeowner's hose and tools. Seth is a new firefighter and had also just completed the district's annual wildfire safety training. He called the emergency in on his district 2-way radio and additional firefighters were en-route even before an exact address could be broadcast.
Earlier in the day, the homeowner had carefully extinguished a small permitted fire. No heat or even steam was rising up from the site by noon and it was checked throughout the afternoon. Confident the fire was completely out, the owner made a trip into town. While he was gone, that fire came back to life.
The fire spread 100 feet up the hillside to the base of the home, contacting it in 3 different places. Thanks to a concrete foundation and good wildland clean up, the fire did not ignite the siding. It moved under the deck area where the yard tools had been set, well away from the burn site. There it burned around 2 gasoline containers, a small brush burner and a weed eater. Amazingly, these did not catch fire although one gas container had begun to melt. Thankfully, a concerned citizen followed up and a firefighter with communications was near by or it could have been an entirely different outcome. Brush Engine 21, Doe Bay Engine 25 and Eastsound Engine 21 responded. However, Seth and Aaron had the fire under control and only the brush engine was needed for "mop up" of the remaining hot spots.
Deputy Fire Marshal Paul Turner investigated the site and determined the permit holder had done everything right. "He'd watered it down and checked it twice before leaving. There was an unburned ring completely around the fire, which shows he had properly watered the area. Which leads me to believe it may have gone underground. That's all we can figure out." (In the photo, Lt. Jeff Jones is standing at the fire ring which shows unburned area around it.)
The unusually dry weather has increased fire danger HIGH, which is very unusual for Orcas Island in June. Because of this danger outdoor burning has been closed early. Small, attended campfire of 2 feet or less are still allowed at this time.
Burned area shows the fire actually contacted the foundation but good clean up and concrete kept it from spreading to the home.
Aaron Patten was in a boat on his way back from Blakely Island when he noticed a lot of smoke on Deer Point. He quickly docked and found the source. It was a hillside on fire, just below a home. He got help from Seth Ybarra, who was working nearby and they both fought the fire with the homeowner's hose and tools. Seth is a new firefighter and had also just completed the district's annual wildfire safety training. He called the emergency in on his district 2-way radio and additional firefighters were en-route even before an exact address could be broadcast.
Earlier in the day, the homeowner had carefully extinguished a small permitted fire. No heat or even steam was rising up from the site by noon and it was checked throughout the afternoon. Confident the fire was completely out, the owner made a trip into town. While he was gone, that fire came back to life.
The fire spread 100 feet up the hillside to the base of the home, contacting it in 3 different places. Thanks to a concrete foundation and good wildland clean up, the fire did not ignite the siding. It moved under the deck area where the yard tools had been set, well away from the burn site. There it burned around 2 gasoline containers, a small brush burner and a weed eater. Amazingly, these did not catch fire although one gas container had begun to melt. Thankfully, a concerned citizen followed up and a firefighter with communications was near by or it could have been an entirely different outcome. Brush Engine 21, Doe Bay Engine 25 and Eastsound Engine 21 responded. However, Seth and Aaron had the fire under control and only the brush engine was needed for "mop up" of the remaining hot spots.
Deputy Fire Marshal Paul Turner investigated the site and determined the permit holder had done everything right. "He'd watered it down and checked it twice before leaving. There was an unburned ring completely around the fire, which shows he had properly watered the area. Which leads me to believe it may have gone underground. That's all we can figure out." (In the photo, Lt. Jeff Jones is standing at the fire ring which shows unburned area around it.)
The unusually dry weather has increased fire danger HIGH, which is very unusual for Orcas Island in June. Because of this danger outdoor burning has been closed early. Small, attended campfire of 2 feet or less are still allowed at this time.
Burned area shows the fire actually contacted the foundation but good clean up and concrete kept it from spreading to the home.
Bobbyann Wildland Fire
11/06/09 15:38 Filed in: Wildland
Fires
Bobbyann Road Fire
At 2:42 PM OIF&R responded to a reported brush fire at 25 Bobbyann Road off of Crow Valley Rd. near Westsound. Fire Lt. Jeff Jones was first on the scene and reported a rapid spreading wild fire threatening a home.
Brush 21, Eastsound Engine 21, Westsound Water Tender 22, Rosario Water Tender 23, Deer Harbor Brush Engine 24 and 32 fire department members worked together to stop the fire which not only threatened at least one home, but spread to adjacent neighboring properties and San Juan Preservation Trust lands.
Earthworks owner John Thompson offered a dozer, which was working in the area and quickly cut a firebreak around the head of the fire before it could spread into heavy brush and the Turtleback Preservation area.
San Juan Island, Lopez Island and the Town of Friday Harbor provided additional firefighters, which were quickly transported by the Sheriff's boat.
The Department's Auxillary team quickly responded to the fire scene to supply water, sandwiches and then a hot meal for the firefighters.
The fire consumed 3.5 acres and came to within 300' of the Baldwin residence on Bobbyann. No firefighters or civilians were injured (except for lots of blisters and minor cuts). The fire burned in tall grass, blackberries and torched a half dozen tees. The fire marshal confirmed the fire was caused by a burn pile. And although the individual had a valid burn permit, he was burning prohibited materials including fiberglass which contributed to the spread and did not have appropriate water on site. He reported wind came up and blew embers up the hillside.
The fire was contained at 7:30 pm and then turned over to the Department of Natural Resources at 9:15pm. Firefighters worked until nearly 11 pm to return all engines and equipment to stations, ready to respond again. The fire was attended through out the night by the DNR crew who reported no further fire activity.
The SJC Fire Marshal has raised the current fire danger to moderate. This means all fires must be OUT by no later than noon. Outdoor burning closes Tuesday June 30th at noon unless fire danger at the latest.
At 2:42 PM OIF&R responded to a reported brush fire at 25 Bobbyann Road off of Crow Valley Rd. near Westsound. Fire Lt. Jeff Jones was first on the scene and reported a rapid spreading wild fire threatening a home.
Brush 21, Eastsound Engine 21, Westsound Water Tender 22, Rosario Water Tender 23, Deer Harbor Brush Engine 24 and 32 fire department members worked together to stop the fire which not only threatened at least one home, but spread to adjacent neighboring properties and San Juan Preservation Trust lands.
Earthworks owner John Thompson offered a dozer, which was working in the area and quickly cut a firebreak around the head of the fire before it could spread into heavy brush and the Turtleback Preservation area.
San Juan Island, Lopez Island and the Town of Friday Harbor provided additional firefighters, which were quickly transported by the Sheriff's boat.
The Department's Auxillary team quickly responded to the fire scene to supply water, sandwiches and then a hot meal for the firefighters.
The fire consumed 3.5 acres and came to within 300' of the Baldwin residence on Bobbyann. No firefighters or civilians were injured (except for lots of blisters and minor cuts). The fire burned in tall grass, blackberries and torched a half dozen tees. The fire marshal confirmed the fire was caused by a burn pile. And although the individual had a valid burn permit, he was burning prohibited materials including fiberglass which contributed to the spread and did not have appropriate water on site. He reported wind came up and blew embers up the hillside.
The fire was contained at 7:30 pm and then turned over to the Department of Natural Resources at 9:15pm. Firefighters worked until nearly 11 pm to return all engines and equipment to stations, ready to respond again. The fire was attended through out the night by the DNR crew who reported no further fire activity.
The SJC Fire Marshal has raised the current fire danger to moderate. This means all fires must be OUT by no later than noon. Outdoor burning closes Tuesday June 30th at noon unless fire danger at the latest.
Cadet Honored
06/06/09 15:29 Filed in: Awards
Firefighter Cadet Honored
Orcas Christian School Sophomore and High-honor student Jamarra Ray Lowry, was honored for her completion of the Orcas Fire & Rescue Firefighter Academy. The course began in November of 2008 and she graduated with honors on April 25th 2009. Jamarra works each summer to pay for her high school tuition and plans to pursue a career in emergency services as a firefighter-paramedic. Her father Dave Lowry was also a volunteer firefighter with the department for several years.
Training Division Chief Patrick Shepler presented new fire recruit Jamarra Ray Lowry with the Excellence in Achievement Award during a school assembly.
Photo taken on scene by Capt. Max Jones w/ iPhone
Orcas Christian School Sophomore and High-honor student Jamarra Ray Lowry, was honored for her completion of the Orcas Fire & Rescue Firefighter Academy. The course began in November of 2008 and she graduated with honors on April 25th 2009. Jamarra works each summer to pay for her high school tuition and plans to pursue a career in emergency services as a firefighter-paramedic. Her father Dave Lowry was also a volunteer firefighter with the department for several years.
Training Division Chief Patrick Shepler presented new fire recruit Jamarra Ray Lowry with the Excellence in Achievement Award during a school assembly.
Photo taken on scene by Capt. Max Jones w/ iPhone