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SAN JUAN COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT #2 (ORCAS ISLAND)


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List of stories about Orcas Island Fire Department

Three fire departments fight Rosario blaze

Photos by Jim Prades, Orcas Island EMT
except for the fourth one which is by Rick Galer

Jim Prades photo

posted 02/11/02
Thirty-nine Orcas Island firefighters, six fire engines, two water tenders, the rescue squad, the aid unit and the Auxiliary Support Team responded to a fire at Rosario resort today (Feb. 11, 2002). The Nisqually ferry diverted to Friday Harbor to pick up 16 firefighters and equipment from Friday Harbor and San Juan Island fire departments as they responded to a call for mutual aid. The two-story satellite building which housed the maintenance and laundry facility was a total loss.


The mutual aid call by the San Juan County Task Force was the first for a structure fire in the county's history according to Max Jones, San Juan County Fire District No. 2 Public Information Officer.

Jim Prades photo

San Juan Co. District No. 3 responded with their Compressed Air Foam Engine 361 out of Eagle Crest with a crew of six. Friday Harbor Fire Department sent Engine 7, their arterial ladder truck with seven firefighters. Friday Harbor Chief Bob Low brought three additional firefighters in the Chief's vehicle.

The fire was reported at 7:08 a.m. Paramedic Jim Prades was first to arrive on the scene at 7:23 a.m. He reported the upper story/west side was heavy with smoke and flame was extending to the first floor.


Jim Prades photo

Eastsound Engine 21 arrived at 7:26 a.m. with additional personnel. Within three minutes both Rosario Engine 23 and Water Tender 23 arrived with more personnel. A second alarm was broadcast at 7:30 a.m. for Engine 27 from Doe Bay and Engine 22 from West Sound.

Chief officers directed the interior attack crews to assess the fire. But due to the extreme intensity of the fire, crews were ordered to back out. A third alarm was called at 8:35 a.m. triggering the mutual aid from San Juan Island.


Rick Galer photo

The fire was fought defensively for the next hour. The fire was declared under control at 9:47 a.m. but overhaul and mop up operations continued until late afternoon. The building was a complete loss and Island Excavating was called in to assist with overhaul. Due to extreme safety concerns and partial structural collapse, the building was ordered demolished so firefighters could completely extinguish all fire.

The fire appeared to have started in a second floor storage area between the office and the shop. The cause is undetermined at this time.

Jim Prades photo

Jim Prades photo

Jim Prades photo

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