||| FROM KIM KIMPLE for ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE |||
Point Lawrence Road – December 4, 2021
Crews were dispatched to reports of a structure fire in the 900-block of Point Lawrence Road shortly after 4 a.m. after neighbors reported smoke and flames from the residence. Arriving personnel confirmed the structure was fully engulfed and initiated a defensive-only attack on the structure, while protecting exposures. Water was supplied by an area hydrant. There were no casualties and no injuries reported. The structure was a complete loss. Due to suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire (see Sheriff’s Log), the investigation on the fire was coordinated between the San Juan County Fire Marshal and San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.
Eastman Road – December 5, 2021
Crews were dispatched to a confirmed structure fire in the 300-block of Teal Lane after a homeowner woke to find flames engulfing the contents of his room. The homeowner called 9-1-1 and evacuated as the fire spread quickly. Initial personnel on scene found the home fully involved with fire and determined a defensive-only attack would be implemented. Crews were met with challenging conditions as the home was located down a long and narrow driveway with no hydrant access. Firefighters lay approximately 2,000-feet of large diameter hose in order to deliver water to the residence. Water access was made by water shuttle using a tender and an engine who drew from a hydrant located in the area of the ferry landing. There were no casualties or injuries reported. The structure was a complete loss. The fire was determined to be accidental and was not connected to the December 4 fire.
In addition to the two fires, emergency responders handled several overlapping critical calls over the weekend.
New Assistant Chief hired
Orcas Fire & Rescue’s new Assistant Chief, Holly vanSchaick.
After several months of searching, Orcas Island Fire and Rescue’s new Assistant Fire Chief hit the ground running.
There’s a little something in the fire service known as a ‘black cloud.’ While generally not a bad thing, someone who is named as a black cloud typically inherits the title after a high volume of intense or strange medical and fire calls develop anywhere they go.
Last week, as our new Assistant Chief, Holly vanSchaick, stepped off the boat and into our lives, we quickly began to wonder if perhaps we had our very own black cloud.
In a span of just 18-hours during one of vanSchaick’s first inaugural days, the department experienced an unusually high number of calls, including two back-to-back structure fires, and several overlapping critical aid calls.
Working alongside Battalion Chief, Bryce Hamilton, Assistant Chief vanSchaick didn’t miss a beat. With fourteen years of paramedic and firefighting experience under her belt, vanSchaick geared up and got right to work.
A natural addition to the team, vanSchaick handled each call with a collaborative approach to teamwork, bringing critically vital knowledge of emergency services, and guiding each incident response with strong leadership.
So, do we have our very own black cloud? Is it all just superstition? Perhaps. Time will tell. Either way, we’re glad she’s here.
Welcome to the Orcas Island Fire and Rescue family, Assistant Chief Holly!
Other new personnel
The District is also welcoming two new members among the career ranks – more to come! Applications are still being accepted while the department builds an eligibility list.
Volunteer opportunities
Orcas Island Fire and Rescue has several new members gearing up for EMT and Firefighter academies starting in January. Our next round of volunteer opportunities is open for those interested in joining the department. OIFR will be hosting a Responder Academy soon, which is a great way to learn the ropes, gain an understanding into the response structure of the department and provide a support role on emergency calls with the opportunity to transition into other disciplines such as EMT, Firefighter, Rescue, and more in the future. If you’re interested in learning more about the upcoming Responder Academy, email Kim at kkimple@orcasfire.org.
Kim,
Thank you for this report
Chief Williams and his crew are to be commended for their
work!
Please note the Orcasonian’s introduction page quote, Here’s a Thought….
“I want my daughters to take up space.” ~ Holly vanSchaick.
This quote written by OIFR, Assistant Chief vanSchaick several years ago is in her published essay: https://www.bonbonbreak.com/take-up-space/ Holly’s article characterizes the special needs of women patients in emergency medicine and the understanding if you want true change, empower women. A need recognized by Chief Williams and one primary reasons Holly was hired as Assistant Chief. Prior to Holly’s arrival Chief Williams recognized the medical necessity for full-time women paramedics and EMTs within the ranks . This cultural shift is now filled by two full-time women paramedics, EMT Firefighters on Orcas Island. Assistant Chief, Holly vanSchaick, career Paramedic/Firefighter, Captain, Kasey Jo Weigley, career Paramedic/Firefighter and Lieutenant, LaRhen Gevaart-Rossie, career EMT/Firefighter.
Men should read the Assistant Chief’s article and internalize its significance. Woman should feel comfort that OIFR hears you and Chief Williams has now hired three women, two being the best credentialed paramedics the hiring board could find.
Take your space, you are entitled.
https://www.bonbonbreak.com/take-up-space/
James.. I’m not sure where you are trying to push this.. I’m hoping the District is pursuing Excellence and not Quota.. all in the Emergency Service Industry knows and expect competence.. in all levels of service.. gender absent.
Thank you for the update.. may Competence always prevail.. and All are welcome!!
I just wanted to agree with Mr Helminski’s comments, although he says it more eloquently. Right or wrong, some people are predisposition to hire people that “look like” themselves, and so by looking at the data you get a better measurement of success.
It is hard work to change an organization’s culture and it certainly makes people uncomfortable but the Chief and the Commissioners have made several correct organizational changes in 2021. The latest positive change being the addition of Holly vanSchaick to the team. Holly welcome to our Beautiful Orcas Island.
This is a welcome shift in culture, and I would like to commend the Administration and BOFC.
The Orcas community is incredibly fortunate to have attracted extremely accomplished individuals who are excited to serve our community. In her short tenure, Holly has already demonstrated a commitment to service and desire to recognize and support all members of the OIFR family. There is a lot of good going on, and now is the time to come together and look forward to 2022 with hope and appreciation.
From my 22 years of service at OIFR, I can attest that this recent hire is more window dressing than significant change. OIFR needs a complete cultural reboot and that needs to begin with a recall of the current BOFC members and dismissal of all administrative staff. It should happen soon before they hemorrhage even more skill volunteers and Union staffers. So very sorry to hear that Paramedic Bryce Hamilton is the latest to jump this foundering ship.
I want to add my welcome to Assistant Chief Holly vanSchaick and thank Fire Chief Scott Wiiliams for his efforts bringing such a skilled and qualified profesional to OIFR. AC vanSchaick has hit the ground running and quickly demonstrated not only a passion for the position of Assistant Fire Chief but also the skill and desire to build a cohesive team ot volunteers and career firefighter/EMS personnel to serve everyone in our Orcas Island community. I look forward to our future.
Tim Fuller
Chair, Board of Fire Commissioners
SJC Fire District #2
I have had the pleasure to meet and work with/along side Assistant Chief Holly vanSchaick during the last several weeks. What a way to test Hollys ability to do the job by throwing her into the fire, no pun intended. Between the two back to back house fires, assisting on EMS calls, daily admin duty’s. Also dealing with me LOLO the President of the Orcas Island Volunteer Fire EMT Association asking for “things” and support on a project the association is working on. Which I have to say went very well!
The Bottom line, Holly has proven herself over and over again for being by far the right choice as our new assistant chief. Then, as if she has not proven herself, Holly shows up on on Wednesday with a Chocolate Cake, I have to add she made herself. To add a little sunshine to OIFR’s day. For those interested, it had Peanut Butter Ganache on the bottom with Vanilla cake and Chocolate frosting. Okey so it may not have won awards in the most beautiful cake contest, but in my humble opinion, the thought and effort that went into that cake made it the most beautiful cake I have ever seen.
In my 43 years in the Fire Service I have to say, Good job OIFR for making the right choice and thank you Holly for accepting it.
A hearty welcome to our new Assistant Chief Holly vanSchaick!
Believe me when I write that Orcas Island and OIFR has been a magical place for our family and several of our friends. YOU will be great and do fantastic work for our community.
I sure hope some of the negativity that spews forth from our more vocal residents does not influence you to think we all have such bad manners and poor sense of decorum. Frankly, I find there’s a bit of a social media and news media empowerment to behave badly in the public eye that is more than simply shocking. I apologize and I am truly sorry for the unnecessary drama. Hopefully, Orcas can return to the days of greeting a newcomer with the “welcome wagon”.
Yes, this island has its ups and downs and the Fire department is no exception. As long time Fire/EMS responders, we’ve seen our share of personnel changes from when my husband, Jim, first started in 1996 till present day. Name me an organization does not have transitions over the span 25 years? In fact, I remember Chief Gary Bennett giving a rundown of longevity stats way back when I joined in 1999 that indicated 3-5 years was about the longest term of a volunteer. Yet, Orcas Fire statistically has enjoyed far greater years of commitment from its ranks.
At no time during my tenure as an EMT during the 19 years I served did I ever feel discriminated against because of my gender. In fact, for the most part, I felt empowered and supported. Now, that might be because I would not put up with any nonsense as the daughter of a double clutchin’ mother trucker (my mom drove trucks on the Alaska pipeline) and I am also somewhat intimidating in stature. Plus, had there been the possibility of chauvinistic influences, I would most definitely not have encouraged our daughter to join the department and become an EMT when she was just 20 years old Her tenure with the department was over the course of several years but eventually she had to move on to other work –part of which was inspired and built upon by what she learned through OIFR. Mostly, I’ve observed folks leave OIFR because of jobs, changes in life, moving off island, going to school, or just plain lack of time. Have there been some people that left because of some sort of conflict -Yep. Meanwhile, the rest of the volunteers just quietly go back to the business of serving the community.
I have also seen tremendously successful volunteer women come through OIFR of which some have gone on become paramedics, nurses, flight attendants, pilots, an Oregon state representative, and community leaders. I too benefited greatly from my time at OIFR, as now I am the Director of numerous health related programs for 11th and 12th grade high school students in Northeast King County. Part of what I oversee are Medical Assisting, Nursing, Dental, PLUS Firefighting/EMS, EMT certification, Wildland certification, and fire officer training programs. Without this background of knowledge as a volunteer OIFR EMT, I might not be where I am today. SO, to the public out there who might look at the negative media mess being portrayed by a few sour grapes—- OIFR is a great place to learn, grow, and give back to your community in a positive way.
So, on a happier note, I’d like to give a long overdue big THANK YOU to OIFR, the board, and its administration for the many years of learning, camaraderie, leadership, second family, and the many many supports provided to this lucky girl.
AND now for those nasty naysayers that make us ROLL our eyes and give one more deep heavy sigh, the timing of those notes during this holiday season could not be more appropo as a perfect sitcom parody. The tradition of “Festivus” always begins with the (public) airing of grievances. Might as well just announce at the start of each post or note: “I got a lot of problems with you people! And now you’re gonna hear about it!”