Orcas Firefighters extinguished a brush fire last week.

On Thursday, June 12 around 7 p.m., Orcas Fire and Rescue firefighters were dispatched to the Highlands neighborhood for a brush fire.

Arriving units found 2,500 square feet of slow burning brush on a vacant lot. Twenty-nine responders extinguished the fire, which caused minimal property damage. There were no injuries to civilians or responders.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the San Juan County Fire Marshal.

“A hearty thank you to the neighbors for helping our crews, our fabulous Auxiliary for nourishing the responders, and our amazing members for their hard work,” said Fire Chief Kevin O’Brien.

With the changing of the seasons, Washington’s Department of Natural Resources has announced that they will be issuing their state-wide burn ban effective July 1.  It is expected that the burning restriction will remain in place until October.

Each year, San Juan County follows the same schedule as DNR, recognizing that even with a mild climate and green landscapes, the risk of a damaging or life-threatening fire rises with summer weather.

As things dry out, remember to be very cautious with any open flames, said Fire Marshal Steve Marler.