by Kevin O’Brien
Orcas Fire Chief
Orcas Fire and Rescue logged the following notable alarms in November.
Power lines down, tree fire
On Nov. 6 at 4:51 p.m. Orcas Fire responded to the Olga area to assist with a downed tree and energized power lines on Olga Road.
Upon arrival, OIFR personnel found active fire and sparking involving the tree and power lines blocking Olga Road. OIFR worked with sheriff’s deputies and San Juan County Public Works to shut down the road and isolate the hazard until OPALCO was able to secure the lines and the tree was cleared.
Carbon monoxide poisoning
On Nov. 10 at 4:49 p.m., OIFR personnel were dispatched to a home in the White Beach/Foster Point neighborhood for the report of an adult male who had experienced carbon monoxide poisoning. Arriving personnel found an adult male who was unconscious and unresponsive. Due to the length of time the man was unconscious and unresponsive, resuscitation efforts were not initiated and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Motorcycle accidents
On Nov. 15 at 9:15 a.m. OIFR responders were dispatched to the Deer Harbor area for the report of a motorcycle accident. Arriving personnel found an adult male who had sustained traumatic injuries from a motorcycle accident. Due to the length of time the man was unconscious and unresponsive, resuscitation efforts were not initiated and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Also on Nov. 15, at 1:18 p.m., personel responded to the Orcas Medical Center parking lot where they made contact, in the back of a van, with a 53-year-old male who was involved in a motocross accident, striking a tree. The patient was treated for multiple injuries and transported in stable condition to Eastsound Airport and transferred to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bellingham via Airlift Northwest.
Fall victim
On Nov. 19 at 3:15 a.m. OIFR personnel responded to the Deer Harbor area to assist an 85-year-old man with significant injuries resulting from a fall. Treatment included stabilization with a full body vacuum splint which is a new protocol for patient care as well as other pain management protocols to facilitate patient comfort. The patient was transported in stable condition to a remote landing zone in Deer Harbor for transfer to Island Hospital in Anacortes via Airlift Northwest.
Chimney fires
On Nov. 15 at 7:13 p.m. OIFR was dispatched to the Raccoon Hollow neighborhood for the report of a chimney fire. Arriving personnel found an active chimney fire that was extending through a wall to the attic. Interior firefighting operations were employed and the fire was extinguished with limited damage to the home.
On Nov. 19 at 6:40 p.m. OIFR was dispatched to the Obstruction Pass neighborhood for the report of a chimney fire. The occupant had reported a “red hot” stove pipe and a chimney fire and extinguished the fire in the wood stove with water. Arriving OIFR personnel found light smoke with no fire and thoroughly inspected the chimney inside the home and on the roof. No fire extension was found.
Medical problem
On Nov. 30 at 2:27 a.m. personnel responded to the West Sound area to assist an 81-year-old male with a significant medical problem that did not require immediate transport to a hospital. EMS remained on scene and provided temporary treatment with follow-up care arranged through the patient’s local physician.
News and events
Over the weekend of Nov. 8 and 9, Orcas Island Fire and Rescue hosted a comprehensive class for search and rescue at Camp Orkila.
Participants included OIFR responders, sheriff’s deputies, and other San Juan County emergency responders. The class focused on the skills required to find people lost in all land areas of San Juan County.
Formal approval of the 2015 budget occurred on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 5:30 p.m. at Eastsound Station 21. Last April, Orcas voters approved the passage of a 10-year operational levy that in 2015 will reduce the amount the district taxes our community by 1.7 percent.
Additionally, we were fortunate to receive notification of a Federal SAFER Grant award to improve volunteer response.
Through the months of October and November, the Board of Fire Commissioners and Administrative Staff have engaged in multiple public meetings creating the 2015 proposed budget which reflects the spirit of the strategic plan and financial projection and contains adjustments dictated by Washington State BARS reporting laws.
Staff members from OIFR have been working to assure a well planned response to emergencies involving infectious diseases such as the Ebola virus. Some of the preparation has included local training and meetings and coordination with other emergency response leaders in San Juan County
On Nov. 4 and 5, OIFR members attended a conference in the Seattle area hosted by the Washington State Fire Chief’s Association that focused on the improvement and interoperability of emergency medical and non-emergent medical care services through “Community Paramedicine”/Mobile Integrated Health Care.”
