— from OIFR Chief Kevin O’Brien —
Friday February 28 at 7:20 p.m., responders from Orcas Island Fire and Rescue assisted San Juan County Sheriff’s Deputies with a search for a missing adult male in the Bartell Road Neighborhood. The man was reported to have walked into a wooded area in the neighborhood with no shoes and minimal clothing. After an organized search lasting approximately 1.5 hours, the man was found near Terrill Beach Road in serious medical condition. He was transported to Eastsound Airport by OIFR for an Airlift Northwest transfer to St. Joseph’s hospital in Bellingham.
Olga Chimney Fire
Also on February 28 at 12:20 a.m., firefighters from OIFR responded to a home in Olga to extinguish a chimney fire. Arriving personnel found an active, stubborn chimney fire. There was no extension to the home and no injuries to civilians or firefighters, but the chimney sustained significant damage. (Photo attached)
The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends annual inspection and cleaning of chimneys, fireplaces, and wood stoves, even if you don’t use your chimney as animals and pests can make their home inside the flue. Depending on your type of stove and frequency of burning, it may be advisable to have your chimney inspected more often.
Stay tuned to the weather forecast as mother nature may bring us more snow this evening through Sunday night. Click here for details: Winter Storm Watch
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