Fire Chief’s Report: November 1-30, 2014

— from Kevin O’Brien, OIFR Chief —

Fire Chief’s Goals and Priorities for 2014

• Execute the mission of OIFR through the 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
• Execute the OIFR strategic plan
• Provide sound management and oversight for all operations, equipment, facilities, projects and programs for OIFR
  • Maintain a high level of service delivery
  • Improve operations through identifying efficiencies
  • 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

Service Trends

Notable Alarms

Power Lines Down/Tree Fire
November 6, 4:51 p.m. OIFR responded to 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 San Juan County Sherriff’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
November 10, 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 Accident
November 15, 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.

Motorcycle Accident
November 15, 1:18 p.m. OIFR Responded to the Orcas Medical Center parking lot where we 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
November 19, 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 Fire
November 15, 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.

Chimney Fire
November 19, 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
November 30, at 2:27 a.m. OIFR personnel responded in the West Sound area to assist an 81 year old male with a significant medical problem which did not require immediate transport to a hospital. OIFR EMS remained on scene and provided temporary treatment with follow-up care arranged through the patient’s local physician.

News and Events

Search and Rescue Training
Over the weekend of November 8 and 9, Orcas Island Fire and Rescue hosted a comprehensive class for search and rescue at Camp Orkila. Participants included OIFR responders, San Juan County 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.

2015 Budget
Formal approval of the 2015 Budget occurred on Tuesday, November 18, 5:30 p.m. at Eastsound Station 21. Last April, Orcas voters approved the passage of a ten-year operational levy that in 2015, will reduce the amount the District taxes our community by 1.7%. 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.

Infectious Disease Planning
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

“Community Paramedicine” Health Care/EMS Conference
November 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.”