||| FROM COLEEN O’BRIEN |||
I write in support of our Volunteer FireFighters and EMTs and the employees of the Orcas Island Fire Dept. We Orcas livers and lovers depend upon them to save our homes (three times for me! Yup!) and to support us in illness. It is quite a lot we ask, particularly when many of the heros who come to help us are volunteering their time and skills!
I understand that keeping up with training and skill building can be a task, but making time to hone techniques that will save homes, buildings and lives is pretty high priority! I understand that our Orcas Department has not been able to schedule these important classes for over a year now. I also am concerned that we are losing personnel. The number of responders has fallen.
So we might ask why? What is happening? Is it possible to have a Fire Department and community get-together to explore what’s the problem and what can we do about it? You never know until you ask!
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Lots of information was given at the meeting last night,
Especially how many EMT’s that we currently have (31)
compared to the rumors that we had lost a lot of them?
Our new Assistant Chief is also a paramedic.
Looking forward to more good news instead of inaccurate gossips .
Pierrette, you used to be a critic and now you are a die hard supporter. Makes one wonder.
Does your count include folks who are on leave of absence for both EMS and Fire? Seems like there could be some issues there. What do you think?
This past year the following volunteers left OIFR: Shawn Simpson, Dennis Dahl, Roz Montgomery, Jane Grey, Rj Meyers and myself. The following are either on leave or currently not responding: Jim Schuh, Brian Ehrmantraut, Ben Luna and Cory Harrington. In addition, Alan Stameisen has taken a job with Alaska Air and will be off island for much of the coming year. Our bench strength is significantly weak.
OIFR has not followed up with potential recruits and has not been able to stick to a training plan. Lopez and San Juan have managed to plan and host Academies this fall. Someone has dropped the ball and it is not good for the stability of our department.
Truly not clear why the BOFC is stating that we are only down one responder. They have either miscalculated or are creating their own ‘truth’ to control the narrative. Either way, they are doing a disservice to this community.