Fire Chief’s Report: August 13—September 9, 2013

............................CALLS FOR SERVICE
 ....................This Report ........Year to Date
 EMS..................  65....................461
 Fire/Other........     26....................176
 Total................. 91................... 637
 2011..........   1/1/11–9/9/12...............498
 2012.............1/1/12-9/9/12...............530

 Year to date responses have increased 20.18%
 Compared to 2011, year to date responses have increased 27.9%

Fire Chief’s Goals and Priorities for 2013

• Execute the mission of OIFR through direction of the Board of Commissioners
• Improve and maintain fiscal accountability for all OIFR operations  Provide positive leadership for OIFR and our community  Improve reliability and performance for OIFR  Update the OIFR strategic plan
• Provide sound management and oversight for all operations, equipment, facilities, projects and programs for OIFR
  • Update all policy, procedures and guidelines
  • Improve all communications (Radio, Interdepartmental, Community)
  • Expand public programs
• Foster open and clear communications with the Orcas Island Community and our surrounding partners

Notable Alarms

Eye Injury Saturday, August 17— We responded to Double Hill Road in the Eastsound area for the report of a man who splashed acid into his eye. He was treated with continuous irrigation and transferred via Airlift Northwest to St Joseph Hospital in Bellingham for further evaluation.

Paragliding Accident Also on Saturday, August 17— Approximately an hour after the page went out for the eye injury, we were called to the Deer Harbor area for a 35-year old male who was paragliding and ‘crash-landed’ along the roadway because of wind change that caused a rapid decent in altitude. He was treated for a possible hip fracture and airlifted to Harbor View Hospital in Seattle for further medical treatment.

Cardiac Arrest Saturday, August 31— A patient was transported via private vehicle to Station 21 in Eastsound by a friend, because he was in possible cardiac arrest. CPR was immediately initiated, followed by defibrillation. The patient had a spontaneous return of circulation, and when he was transferred to the Airlift Northwest helicopter his vital signs were stable. He was transported to St Joseph Hospital in Bellingham for further evaluation and treatment.

News and Events

Orcas Cares
On September 24 and 25, our Orcas Cares Team will be hosting the FD Cares Team from Kent Regional Fire Authority to learn and explore possible cooperative efforts.

Orcas Cares is a partnership program created to assist seniors and disabled people. Our partners include the Senior Center, Lahari, Orcas Medical Foundation, Hearts and Hands, and the Lion’s Club.

New Volunteers
OIFR welcomes Pat Muffet as a volunteer Mercy Pilot and Becky Blackadar as a volunteer office assistant.

OIFR Chaplain
OIFR welcomes Orcas Community Church Assistant Pastor Scott Harris as our new Chaplain.

OIFR Welcomes Our New Paramedic/Duty Officers
Bryce Hamilton from Grays Harbor County and Scott Williams from Kalispell, Montana began employment on September 1.

9/11 Observance
Orcas Island Fire and Rescue invited the community to an observance of Patriot Day, September 11, at the Eastsound Fire Hall, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., in recognition of the lives lost and those affected by the events of September 11, 2001. The program included performances by Ms. Knapp’s 5th Graders and the Orcas Community Band. Messages from Maura O’Neil, Councilman Rick Hughes, OIFR Chaplain Scott Harris, and Chief O’Brien were given. Refreshments were provided by the OIFR Auxiliary. Special thanks to Dick and Velma Doty who served their famous doughnuts!

Looking Ahead

The OIFR BOFC will convene a special meeting on Wednesday, September, 18 2013 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the following:

• District Financial Officer Vacancy
• 2014 Budget
• The 2013- 2018 Strategic Plan