On the night of Sunday, Aug. 21, Orcas Island Fire and Rescue responded to a state fire mobilization request by sending a brush truck to Lincoln County.

The two person crew, one from Orcas Island and one from San Juan Island, will help fight the Hart Road fire, north of Davenport, Wash.

The fire started north of Davenport and spread quickly by Sunday afternoon. When local fire resources were exhausted, a call went out statewide for help. Orcas Island Fire Rescue’s truck “Brush 21” departed on the last ferry off the island on Sunday night. They will join “Northwest Task Force One” along with other members from this region.

After the “Spokane Firestorm” in October 1991, Wash. state passed the Fire Mobilization Act in 1992 to ensure that fire resources would be available to assist other departments throughout the state in case of large conflagrations or other incidents beyond local control. Since then, fire mobilization has been used nearly 200 times for wildland and other types of incidents throughout Washington.

Fire mobilization benefits communities by providing resources and firefighters when needed.

The state also pays for the use of the fire equipment and firefighters. Firefighters gain valuable experience they could never get in training. This pays big dividends when they return home. Mobilizations last three to five days, but may be up to 14 days long.

Currently all burning in San Juan County is prohibited, including charcoal BBQ grills and recreational campfires.

For more information please call Orcas Fire and Rescue at 376-2331.