News

Below is an open letter from Chief vanSchaick. Click on the link below for the complete document. Open Letter from Chief vanSchaick 2023-08-25

As islanders have followed the heartbreaking news of the wildfires in Maui earlier this month, concern about fire risk and prevention in the San Juan Islands has understandably increased. All of the island Fire Department Chiefs, in addition to other key local leaders in the areas of emergency response and fire mitigation have written a

Holly vanSchaick is the new fire chief for Orcas Island Fire & Rescue. The Board of Fire Commissioners appointed Chief vanSchaick at the Regular Meeting on August 21, 2023.  Commissioner Stameisen (also a volunteer with OIFR) said, “I did start in this industry 45 years ago… And I have worked under many chiefs. I would

The Board of Fire Commissioners invites you to the Regular Meeting Monday, August 21st, at 3pm at the Eastsound Fire Hall or on Zoom (link below). Public comment can always be submitted via email to bofc@orcasfire.org if you are unable to attend the meeting. Any email meant for public comment should state as such with

Special Meeting Board of Fire Commissioners San Juan County Fire Protection District #2 Monday – August 14th, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. In-person: 45 Lavender Lane, Eastsound, WA Zoom: (253) 215-8782 / Meeting ID: 874 3125 8123 / Passcode: 700747 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87431258123?pwd=aTJQcmVUdTZldm1ZbStNdGlNVmZJUT09

BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING Thursday, August 10th at 10:00 am   Board meetings are held online via Zoom and in person at Station 21 (45 Lavender Ln. in Eastsound). If you would like to be added to the meeting notification email list, please contact District Secretary Kat Barnard at BOFC@orcasfire.org.   Zoom: 253-205-0468

Eastsound, WA – An airplane traveling a few miles away from Orcas Airport made an emergency landing Wednesday evening. The landing resulted in the airplane flipping over as it hit a fence in a field. OIFR first responders were enroute within 15 seconds of being dispatched, with 11 OIFR members responding to the incident. Through

Recreational campfires, outdoor cooking, and oil-fueled products are all covered by the fire ban. SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. July 21, 2023 –The San Juan County Fire Marshal has declared a ban on all recreational fires after consultation with the San Juan County Fire Chiefs. Due to current atmospheric and field conditions, this ban on all

Six years ago, the Recreational Boating Safety Program at State Parks created Paddle Safe Week to promote safety while out on the water! OIFR wants you to be safe on the Salish Sea and our lakes while enjoying Moran and Obstruction State Parks. Paddlesports such as kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) are popular pastimes in

San Juan County’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies reported a 100% survival rate following cardiac arrest from a heart rhythm that can be defibrillated in 2022, the highest survival rate in Washington State. The national survival rate following this type of cardiac arrest was 32%, according to the data in the Cardiac Arrest Registry (CARES)