Orcas Island Fire & Rescue Bonds Available to Local Investors 

Orcas Island Fire and Rescue (San Juan County Fire Protection District No. 2), San Juan County, Washington (the “District”) is in the process of issuing phase 1 of voter approved Unlimited Tax General Obligation Bonds (the “Bonds”) to provide $14,000,000 to construct, acquire, equip, renovate and make capital improvements to apparatus and facilities of the District, and to pay costs of issuing the Bonds.  Pursuant to the Election Resolution, the improvements include: (i) the refurbishment and purchase of ambulances, fire engines, tenders, light trucks and brush trucks; (ii) rehab and improve roofs, cranes/lifts, utilities, restrooms and other fire stations and facilities; and (iii) other capital improvements to District facilities for fire prevention, fire protection, rescue, and emergency medical services, including wildfire defense.  

As part of the bond financing process, the District’s staff and Commissioners presented information to the national rating agency of S&P Global Ratings.  According to Fire Chief Chad Kimple, “the District received a rating grade of A+ based on a number of factors, including strong voter support for the levy lid lift and the Bonds; stable financial performance and healthy cash reserves; financial practices and policies; stable economy; and experienced management team in operating the District in an efficient manner.” 

The District would like to make local citizens aware of the opportunity to buy the District’s Bonds and earn tax-free (tax-exempt) interest.  The Bonds will pay tax-exempt interest on each June 1 and December 1.  The Bonds will be financed over 19 years, so investors could decide how many years they would like to invest their money, such as buying a Bond that matures from 12/1/2027 to 12/1/2045.   

D.A. Davidson & Co. is serving as the Bond Underwriter.  If local investors are interested in purchasing the District’s Bonds, they should act quickly and contact the D.A. Davidson Bellingham office by calling 360-650-5300, on or before October 20, 2026.  The Bonds are expected to be priced and sold by October 21, 2026.  The Bonds are subject to availability and to the acceptance of an offer to purchase. This is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Bonds. The offering of the Bonds is made only by the Official Statement, copies of which are available from D.A. Davidson & Co.