Orcas Fire and Rescue has responded to its first wildfire of the summer.

Island Excavation workers clearing land and burning with a permitted construction burn noticed smoke some distance from their fire around 3:45 p.m. on June 16.

Fire units responded from the Eastsound Station as well as additional units from other parts of the island. Three of the department’s all-wheel drive Wildland Attack & Structure Protection (WASP) Engines responded to the top of the narrow steep hill of Pickett’s Lane in the Doe Bay area.

“The fire had been caused by a single ember from the permitted fire on the landing having been picked up by the wind and tossed several hundred feet upslope,” said Fire Chief Mike Harris. “It was indeed fortunate that one of the crew saw the smoke far away on the hillside and called for help.”

The fire department also responded with their water tenders to establish a constant water supply to complete extinguishment and create a “fire line” around the area burned.

Crews from Island Excavating were requested for additional help, and the fire department’s volunteer auxiliary responded to supply food and drinks for the firefighters and other workers.

“The fire covered an area 100 feet wide from east to west and 300 feet north to south up a 40 percent slope,” Harris said. “Fuel was brush with scattered pines. The ground was covered with four-inch thick moss, which had cured in the sun of the southern aspect the slope faced. In addition, the landscape was littered with portions of long dead trees. Many were as large as a man’s thigh. All these fuels had low moisture content. The ground was so steep that the footing was extremely loose and rocks were easy to roll causing a safety hazard.”

In all, 26 firefighters and three members of the auxiliary responded to the call. No structures were destroyed in the incident and there were no injuries.

“This fire was quite remote and on the border of Moran State Park, one of our true island treasures,” said Paramedic Division Chief Patrick Shepler. “The new WASP engines allowed us to put it out.”