Guest Column: Neighbors Serving Neighbors Shows Orcas Cares

by Kevin K. O’Brien

“Neighbors Serving Neighbors Since 1948” has been the motto for Orcas Island Fire and Rescue for many years. When OIFR was established, its original purpose was to fight fires. Today, we consider ourselves “All Hazard Responders,” answering the call of duty when our neighbors ask for help with an assortment of issues including medical emergencies, structure fires, wildland fires, car accidents, rescue, fire prevention, flooding problems, animal rescue, and our newest program Orcas Cares where we help our island seniors and disabled folks in “non-emergent” situations.

From January 2012 to October 2013, our requests for help have increased around 34%. This year, we are projecting 931 alarms. We can’t do what we do without our amazing volunteer neighbors. People like Rich Harvey, who owns a logging business and specializes in rescue but is good at everything else at OIFR. If you need help, you are always happy to have Rich on your team! Heather Thomas, who works hard by day caring for patients at Orcas Family Health Center and often on her free time, stays at the fire station so she can respond to alarms with our paramedic/duty officer. Lindsay Schirmer, who as our Administrative Assistant, greets the public each day with a smile and keeps the wheels turning at OIFR. When she is not at work, she responds as a volunteer EMT to help others in need. We can’t do what we do without great people like Mike Macksay in Olga, who when the bell hits, is always there to help his neighbor.

Orcas Senior Services Director Marla Johns has stepped up to join our team in leading our Orcas Cares Program. Marla and outstanding OIFR volunteers Rita Harvey and Patricia Ayers have answered the call in assisting seniors and disabled people who do not necessarily require the high level of care of a nemergency response, but need some assistance with health or living conditions which would prevent emergency incidents from occurring. We are finding that Orcas Cares and other programs like it accomplish the goals of helping people in need, keeping them in their homes, and lowering health care costs. We are fortunate to have island partners in the Orcas Cares program including the Senior Center, Lahari, Hearts and Hands, Orcas Lions Club, Orcas Medical Foundation. I am happy to say that you will see lots more from our Orcas Cares team in the future.

Orcas Island Fire and Rescue exists for one reason, to help our neighbors. Whether you are a neighbor living on the island or visiting, we are your neighbors ready to come to your assistance twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. We are neighbors serving neighbors since 1948.

Kevin K. O’Brien is Fire Chief/CEO of  Orcas Island Fire and Rescue