by KEVIN O’BRIEN

Orcas Fire Chief

Notable Alarms

July 4: At 7:30 p.m., Orcas Island Fire and Rescue responded to Raccoon Point neighborhood to assist a 67-year-old male in cardiac arrest. After CPR and other significant emergency medical procedures were administered, the patient did not respond to resuscitation attempts and was pronounced dead at the scene.

July 12: At 8 p.m., OIFR responded to Orcas Landing for the report of a juvenile male who fell approximately 12 feet from a tree and sustained possible head and spine injuries. The patient was treated, stabilized and transported to a remote landing zone in the Orcas area where he was transferred to Airlift Northwest for helicopter transport to Harborview Hospital in Seattle. OIFR was informed the patient is well and experienced a full recovery.

July 13: At 12 p.m., OIFR responded to an Orcas neighborhood to assist a juvenile male found unconscious after falling from his bicycle at high speed.  The patient had sustained traumatic injuries and was treated, stabilized, and transported to a remote landing zone in the Orcas area where he was transferred to Airlift Northwest for helicopter transport to Harborview Hospital in Seattle.

July 25: At 3:30 p.m., OIFR responded to a report of a woman who collapsed while in her boat in the Deer Harbor area.  CPR was performed by citizen rescuers and she was brought to shore, treated by OIFR responders, and found to have cardiac abnormalities. After emergency medical procedures were performed, she was stabilized and flown to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bellingham via Airlift Northwest. OIFR has learned the patient has achieved a full recovery.

July 29: 3:30 p.m., OIFR responded to a home in the Eastsound area for the report of a male who suffered an eye injury sustained while using a pressure washer. The patient was treated and transported to Eastsound Airport in stable condition where he was transferred to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bellingham via Airlift Northwest.

July 30: 9:30 a.m., OIFR personnel responded to a report of a capsized aluminum boat off the shore near the Buckhorn neighborhood with two adult males who were in the salt water for up to ten minutes. When OIFR personnel arrived, the men had been rescued and delivered to shore by family members. The men were medically evaluated and found to be in stable condition with no further treatment required. Thanks to Outer Island Expeditions for their support and assistance on this alarm.

Burning is closed

Commercial and residential permitted burning is closed through September. If conditions allow, we expect permitted burning to reopen in October. Recreational camp fires no larger than two feet in diameter are currently allowed.

If you have a recreational fire, make sure that it is attended at all times and maintain a method of extinguishment in close proximity. When you are finished with the camp fire, make sure it is “dead out.” In partnership with the county fire  marshal, OIFR will continue to monitor the fire risk conditions of our island and we will keep you posted regarding the possible closure of recreational fires.

As of Aug. 11, there is a burn ban for all fires in Moran State Park and other Washington State DNR controlled lands.

Drills

On July 16, in preparation for the Mass Casualty Incident drill in August, OIFR members participated in comprehensive training and a tabletop exercise addressing the components of a large scale medical incident. The subsequent MCI drill in August took place at Eastsound Airport and simulated an aircraft collision involving 16 patients.

On July 24, wildland firefighters hiked Turtleback Mountain to survey the environment and plan for potential wildfire operations.