Board of Fire Commissioners

RJ Myers is a fire commissioner with Orcas Island Fire and Rescue who was sworn in January of 2026. Myers has previously served as the Fire Marshal in San Juan County and now works as a Firefighter/EMT in another county in Washington. Myers holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Pacific Lutheran University and is a 4 time attendee of the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD.

R.J. Is a former IAFF Union President and a current Union Shift Rep. R.J. Also has taught health and wellness on Orcas Island and teaches wilderness medicine nationally. 

Elected November 2023

Brian Ehrmantraut was elected to a four-year term in November 2023.  Brian moved full-time to Orcas in 1999 after a career in science and engineering in Silicon Valley to raise his daughter here in a more engaged and connected community. He has volunteered with OIFR since 2013, contributing as a structural firefighter, technical rescue and marine rescue/transport team member, and officer of the Orcas Island Volunteer Firefighter/EMT Association.

Over the past ~25 years, Brian has held other public service positions in the community, including San Juan County Planning Commissioner, Port of Orcas Commissioner, and member of the Eastsound Planning and Review Commission. He has also served as Trustee/Treasurer of the OPAL Community Land Trust,  founding member of the Salmonberry School, Board member and Treasurer of Childrens’ House, and President of the Eastsound Water Users Association. Additionally, he has served on the boards of the Orcas Family Health Center, the Orcas Highlands Association, and Lopez Island Vineyards.

Brian is dedicated to ensuring Orcas Island Fire & Rescue has stable funding, transparent governance, and a strong team of volunteers and professionals working to keep our community safe and healthy.

Email: behrmantraut@orcasfire.org
Phone: (360) 298-2476

Elected November 2023

Randall Gaylord was elected to a six-year term in November 2023.   Mr. Gaylord served as the elected prosecuting attorney and coroner in San Juan County from January 1994 to December 2022.  As the “last of the first responders,”  Mr. Gaylord worked closely with first responders from Orcas Island Fire and Rescue as well as the other fire and emergency medical personnel throughout the county.

Mr. Gaylord raised two children at the public schools on Orcas Island, where his wife Marny was one of the elementary school teachers.

Mr. Gaylord hopes to build on the leadership of those who have previously served as commissioners and to bring to the commission his depth of knowledge of municipal governance to assure a stable future for Orcas Fire and Rescue.

Email: rgaylord@orcasfire.org
Phone: 360-376-3076 (voice, no text)

Elisabeth Britt, also known by her middle name Darby, was appointed to the Orcas Island Fire and Rescue (OIFR) Board in July 2024 to complete an unexpired two-year term.

Elisabeth moved full-time to Orcas Island in 2021, a place she fell in love with during her youth. She is the fifth generation of her family to live, work and raise her family in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

With over 25 years of experience in the finance and the public sector, Elisabeth brings a wealth of community outreach expertise to her role at OIFR. Starting with service as a legislative aide/assistant in the Washington State Legislature, her career has been marked by significant contributions to various non-profit boards, government commissions, and committees, highlighting her dedication to open government, public safety, and community development. Her dedication to these roles underscores her commitment to fostering a thriving, engaged, and well-served community on Orcas Island.

Email: ebritt@orcasfire.org

Phone: 360.305.8875

Bianca Cox moved to Orcas Island with her family in 2018 and was appointed to the Orcas Island Fire and Rescue Board in 2026. She works as a Multilingual Paraeducator with the Orcas Island School District and a ballet teacher, choreographer, and performer at the Orcas Dance Collective.

She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, Technology & Policy from Cal State Monterey Bay. She proudly served as an advisory committee member on the local stream restoration in her previous hometown. Along with her loving husband, Justin, Bianca balances her work as an educator and program founder with raising her two active boys, who are often by her side at local gatherings, rehearsals and neighborhood events. 

Bianca and OISD founded Orcas Island’s Bilingual Ballet program, now expanded through the Orcas Dance Collective, to bridge cultural gaps through dance and artistic expression. It’s the first of its kind on Orcas and a true marriage of her passions for connection, education and dance. Fluent in English and Spanish, Bianca builds warm, trusted relationships in her professional and artistic work, whether she’s advising on environmental policy, translating for families, or facilitating community events. 

Bianca is most looking forward to bringing fire safety and education to the community through her role as fire commissioner. She is outspoken and has a drive to ensure fire and emergency readiness no matter the age!