Mar 2008
Unusual Sight - winter wildland fire!
28/03/08 16:00 Filed in: Wildland
Fires
An unusual sight - a winter wildland fire!
Westsound Engine 22 was first on scene and had the fire knocked down within minutes.
Although under several inches of water in some places, the fire ran quickly across the dry swamp grasses.
079: Fire spread from a small debris fire.
Westsound Engine 22 was first on scene and had the fire knocked down within minutes.
Although under several inches of water in some places, the fire ran quickly across the dry swamp grasses.
079: Fire spread from a small debris fire.
Bruce Brackett Recovering from Heart Attack
17/03/08 16:00 Filed in: Personnel
Orcas
Islander Bruce Brackett, home recovering from heart
surgery
On March 17 of this year, long time Orcas Island resident Bruce Brackett had a major heart attack on the operating table at St. Joseph hospital in Bellingham. Odd. Usually, people first have heart attacks, then are helped in hospital, if they make it that far.
Lack of oxygen to the heart leading to death of heart muscle, or infarction, is a frequent and very serious result of the time it takes to get medical care. Bruce Brackett is home now, hale and hearty, after major cardiac surgery involving a triple by-pass and three stints. Here is his story. In the weeks leading up to the heart attack, Bruce had a number of indicators that something was not right, including tightness in his chest and such shortness of breath that he was forced to curtail his normal physical
activities. He did not experience any pain.
Finally, on March 17, he took himself into Station 21, and described his symptoms to Mik Preysz, who was the duty paramedic that day. Mik performed an EKG, compared it to a normal EKG performed some weeks earlier as part of the Fire Department’s member wellness program, and quite promptly had Bruce airlifted to St. Joseph Hospital. OIFD Paramedic Mik Preysz explained that “the heart complex of Bruce’s EKG showed subtle changes indicating possible blockages in the coronary arteries. Blockages
cause inadequate oxygenation to the heart which can lead to death of cardiac muscle.” The subtle difference in the EKG, combined with the other signs and symptoms Bruce showed, signaled red flags for Mik, resulting in Bruce’s quick trip to Bellingham.
Bruce arrived at St. Joseph about seventy minutes after walking into the Fire Department.
On viewing the imaging of Bruce’s coronary arteries, the cardiac surgeon was sufficiently alarmed to have a patient who was prepped and anaesthetized for surgery taken off the operating table in order to begin surgery on Bruce, just as Bruce actually had the heart attack. Because of the speed of the whole care process, Bruce is recovering well, with no death of heart muscle.
Bruce says that he is happy to wake up every morning. He says “from the bottom of my replumbed heart, I thank the whole team of professionals who helped me in my hour of need.”
Bruce is a very independent man. He enjoys walking into his shop in the morning and beginning to create something from raw materials. He built “Fiona”, his thirty-six foot wooden sailboat, from scratch. His lifestyle always has included working out at the
gym, sailing, and bike riding. To these factors, the excellent and speedy care he received, and luck, he attributes being able to leave the hospital three and a half days after surgery, as well as his good recovery. But Bruce has several messages for us about his experience. “When you have little symptoms, don’t just chalk it up to getting older. Don’t delay getting medical help. Have
stress EKGs and other recommended tests regularly.”
Bruce thinks his previous fast food, high cholesterol, high stress habits contributed to his problem. He’s been reshaping his lifestyle to include a diet of fruit, vegetables, brown rice, low fat protein, and smaller portions. He has lost twenty pounds, or ten percent of his body weight. He is reducing unnecessary stress as well as getting a good night’s sleep. Best of all, he is focusing on the peace and serenity of his home on Orcas.
Bruce and his wife Julia have lived on Orcas Island since 1978. Now retired, Bruce worked for contractor Ron Wallace for nineteen years. He has been a Fire FIghter for the OIFD since 1980.
On March 17 of this year, long time Orcas Island resident Bruce Brackett had a major heart attack on the operating table at St. Joseph hospital in Bellingham. Odd. Usually, people first have heart attacks, then are helped in hospital, if they make it that far.
Lack of oxygen to the heart leading to death of heart muscle, or infarction, is a frequent and very serious result of the time it takes to get medical care. Bruce Brackett is home now, hale and hearty, after major cardiac surgery involving a triple by-pass and three stints. Here is his story. In the weeks leading up to the heart attack, Bruce had a number of indicators that something was not right, including tightness in his chest and such shortness of breath that he was forced to curtail his normal physical
activities. He did not experience any pain.
Finally, on March 17, he took himself into Station 21, and described his symptoms to Mik Preysz, who was the duty paramedic that day. Mik performed an EKG, compared it to a normal EKG performed some weeks earlier as part of the Fire Department’s member wellness program, and quite promptly had Bruce airlifted to St. Joseph Hospital. OIFD Paramedic Mik Preysz explained that “the heart complex of Bruce’s EKG showed subtle changes indicating possible blockages in the coronary arteries. Blockages
cause inadequate oxygenation to the heart which can lead to death of cardiac muscle.” The subtle difference in the EKG, combined with the other signs and symptoms Bruce showed, signaled red flags for Mik, resulting in Bruce’s quick trip to Bellingham.
Bruce arrived at St. Joseph about seventy minutes after walking into the Fire Department.
On viewing the imaging of Bruce’s coronary arteries, the cardiac surgeon was sufficiently alarmed to have a patient who was prepped and anaesthetized for surgery taken off the operating table in order to begin surgery on Bruce, just as Bruce actually had the heart attack. Because of the speed of the whole care process, Bruce is recovering well, with no death of heart muscle.
Bruce says that he is happy to wake up every morning. He says “from the bottom of my replumbed heart, I thank the whole team of professionals who helped me in my hour of need.”
Bruce is a very independent man. He enjoys walking into his shop in the morning and beginning to create something from raw materials. He built “Fiona”, his thirty-six foot wooden sailboat, from scratch. His lifestyle always has included working out at the
gym, sailing, and bike riding. To these factors, the excellent and speedy care he received, and luck, he attributes being able to leave the hospital three and a half days after surgery, as well as his good recovery. But Bruce has several messages for us about his experience. “When you have little symptoms, don’t just chalk it up to getting older. Don’t delay getting medical help. Have
stress EKGs and other recommended tests regularly.”
Bruce thinks his previous fast food, high cholesterol, high stress habits contributed to his problem. He’s been reshaping his lifestyle to include a diet of fruit, vegetables, brown rice, low fat protein, and smaller portions. He has lost twenty pounds, or ten percent of his body weight. He is reducing unnecessary stress as well as getting a good night’s sleep. Best of all, he is focusing on the peace and serenity of his home on Orcas.
Bruce and his wife Julia have lived on Orcas Island since 1978. Now retired, Bruce worked for contractor Ron Wallace for nineteen years. He has been a Fire FIghter for the OIFD since 1980.
Serious Burns & Vehicle Crash
15/03/08 16:00 Filed in: Injuries
Orcas Island Fire Department’s Aid 21 and Engine 22
were called to the Westsound OPALCO sub-station at
10:32 pm. A 26 year-old patient was treated for
first, second and third degree burns as a result of
trespassing and then coming in contact with high
voltage inside the sub-station enclosure. The patient
was flown to Harborview Hospital in Seattle via
AirLift Northwest with serious injuries.
They also responded to a report of a single vehicle crash on the North Shore at approximately 2:30 am the following morning. The vehicle struck a tree, causing significant damage and the single occupant was declared dead on scene.
They also responded to a report of a single vehicle crash on the North Shore at approximately 2:30 am the following morning. The vehicle struck a tree, causing significant damage and the single occupant was declared dead on scene.
Letter to the editor from BOFC
14/03/08 04:00 Filed in: Letters to the
Editor
To the Orcas
Island Community,
First of all, the Board of Fire Commissioners wishes to thank you for caring enough to bring to our table, your concerns for the betterment of our Fire Department. We all have the same goal – to insure we have the best help in the moment of need.
We heard you. We are listening and, we are going to make changes.
We heard the need for a change in the Fire District hiring policy and now have a draft policy that clearly defines the steps of the hiring process. We strive to hire the best person for the job and there must be a process to ensure it is a positive step in the right direction.
We heard the need for a change in the Cross Training requirement and we are directing Chief Harris to work with our volunteers to replace the current requirement with a sustainable solution that best meets the needs of both the volunteers and the community.
We are contacting the Strategic Planning Committee groups to come back to us with a review of our progress and needs for the level of service.
We wish for continued input and have made available the following options in an effort to keep the solutions process moving forward.
E-MAIL Clyde Duke at kookaburra51@hotmail.com (Chairman of the Board) or
chiefharris@yahoo.com. PHONE 376-5873 or 622-6149.
IN WRITING: Chief Harris c/o Orcas Island Fire Dept. POB 217, Eastsound, WA 98245
or drop it in our suggestion box at the Eastsound Fire Station front desk.
And, lastly we believe this time of pause, regardless of how painful, is a chance to rise to a higher level of understanding our entire communities needs and then delivering the best service we can to our citizens and our volunteers. Board of Fire Commissioners Clyde Duke Harvey Olsan Jim Coffin
First of all, the Board of Fire Commissioners wishes to thank you for caring enough to bring to our table, your concerns for the betterment of our Fire Department. We all have the same goal – to insure we have the best help in the moment of need.
We heard you. We are listening and, we are going to make changes.
We heard the need for a change in the Fire District hiring policy and now have a draft policy that clearly defines the steps of the hiring process. We strive to hire the best person for the job and there must be a process to ensure it is a positive step in the right direction.
We heard the need for a change in the Cross Training requirement and we are directing Chief Harris to work with our volunteers to replace the current requirement with a sustainable solution that best meets the needs of both the volunteers and the community.
We are contacting the Strategic Planning Committee groups to come back to us with a review of our progress and needs for the level of service.
We wish for continued input and have made available the following options in an effort to keep the solutions process moving forward.
E-MAIL Clyde Duke at kookaburra51@hotmail.com (Chairman of the Board) or
chiefharris@yahoo.com. PHONE 376-5873 or 622-6149.
IN WRITING: Chief Harris c/o Orcas Island Fire Dept. POB 217, Eastsound, WA 98245
or drop it in our suggestion box at the Eastsound Fire Station front desk.
And, lastly we believe this time of pause, regardless of how painful, is a chance to rise to a higher level of understanding our entire communities needs and then delivering the best service we can to our citizens and our volunteers. Board of Fire Commissioners Clyde Duke Harvey Olsan Jim Coffin
Letter to the Editor re Growing Pains
14/03/08 04:00 Filed in: Letters to the
Editor
To the Orcas
Island Community,
Many of you are aware that our fire department is struggling through some very important growing pains. We have just lost an important and key member of our administrative staff, Buddy Wright. He was the training officer, web page master and one of four people who answer questions, phone calls and the do the day-to-day tasks to keep the “office door” open. However, we are still ready to respond the moment we are called to action. In fact, I believe in my heart, this painful and necessary time is pulling us closer together as a group of people who have never lost sight of why we are here. We are ready and willing, because we care deeply and with great passion. I feel very fortunate and proud to be part of this incredible “family” of dedicated people who, without hesitation or often even a moment’s warning, will throw down whatever they are doing and go help someone who could be a neighbor, a friend or a complete stranger. Finally and perhaps most importantly, we all make mistakes but what really matters is what we do about them. I ask you to bear with us while we work through this moment of pause and make it our opportunity to improve our performance, our image and our connection with both our members and our residents.
Sincerely Chief Harris
Many of you are aware that our fire department is struggling through some very important growing pains. We have just lost an important and key member of our administrative staff, Buddy Wright. He was the training officer, web page master and one of four people who answer questions, phone calls and the do the day-to-day tasks to keep the “office door” open. However, we are still ready to respond the moment we are called to action. In fact, I believe in my heart, this painful and necessary time is pulling us closer together as a group of people who have never lost sight of why we are here. We are ready and willing, because we care deeply and with great passion. I feel very fortunate and proud to be part of this incredible “family” of dedicated people who, without hesitation or often even a moment’s warning, will throw down whatever they are doing and go help someone who could be a neighbor, a friend or a complete stranger. Finally and perhaps most importantly, we all make mistakes but what really matters is what we do about them. I ask you to bear with us while we work through this moment of pause and make it our opportunity to improve our performance, our image and our connection with both our members and our residents.
Sincerely Chief Harris