— by Ed Sutton —
The firefighting exercise was conducted by Killebrew Lake last Saturday, photo courtesy of Ed Sutton
If you live near Killebrew Lake, east of the Orcas Island ferry landing, you most likely experienced much activity there recently by the Orcas Island Fire and Rescue (OIFR) District. On Saturday, November 14, OIFR responded with nearly 30 firefighters and staff to a practice fire for training that concluded with the destruction of an old cabin that was built in 1958 by Prescott Killebrew.
About a year ago, David Tribolet was walking his dog in the area and noticed that the building had been vandalized and showed evidence of trespass. Over the past year, Tribolet, who is an OIFR volunteer firefighter, has been in contact with the WA State Fish and Wildlife Dept. which has responsibility for the property. Derek Hacker of that State organization said that the State owns many rural properties and that maintenance of any such structures is very difficult and represents certain liabilities of concern. Hacker and Tribolet worked together over the past year to obtain necessary permits leading to a plan for OIFR to conduct a training exercise that resulted in complete demolition of the cabin.
The Department responded at the site with two major fire engines, a tanker truck which pumped water from Killebrew Lake to a smaller fire vehicle, and various support equipment. Battalion Chief Scott Williams, who was in charge of the exercise, said that several separate fires were lit in the building during the day in order that the volunteers could experience different conditions in an actual fire such as heavy, toxic smoke.
Recent rain made the cabin site very muddy and difficult to access. Two four-wheel “Gators” allowed the department to shuttle firefighters and supplies into the site. At mid-day Williams called for a lunch break and the entire contingent walked through the woods to the lunch tent erected by the IOFR Auxiliary crew. Six members of the AUX team provided hot soup, sandwiches, cookies, fruit and coffee to the hungry fire crew.
Following the lunch break, the firefighters returned to the site and continued training in various situations until later in the afternoon, the building was allowed to burn to the foundation.
