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


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Disaster averted at Orcas ferry landing

Photos by Paramedic Mike Damoth

updated 05/29/02 posted 05/28/02
Gasoline overflowing from a storage tank, Memorial Day crowds waiting for the ferry, the situation at the Orcas Ferry landing Monday, May 27, 2002 "had the potential for a real disaster," according to Orcas Island firefighter Max Jones. "One spark would have taken out Orcas Village," said County Fire Marshall Rick Galer. Action by Deputy Herb Crowe and teamwork by the county deputies, dispatchers, Orcas firefighters, EMS, Charlie Meyer and Washington State Ferries safely defused the situation.

Herb Crowe - file photo

An estimated nine hundred gallons of gasoline spilled from tanks at the fuel pier at the Orcas Ferry Landing after an error was made in shutting off valves. Fuel started flowing from a larger tank into a smaller one. Gasoline was running over the tops of the tanks. Deputy Herb Crowe, who happened to have worked for IPS one summer, was in the area patrolling, saw what was happening and notified dispatch. Following directions phoned in by Island Petroleum Services owner Charlie Meyer, Crowe shut off the valves. "The officer should get an award," said Galer.

"He saved the day," said San Juan County Sheriff Bill Cumming. "Had he not acted quickly, and the Orcas Fire Department, there was a huge risk of fire." Eighteen firefighters and five pieces of equipment were sent to the scene after the call was received at 5:41 p.m.

Restaurants and shops were evacuated and all potential sources of ignition were turned off. Class B foam from Engine 21 was applied to contain the vapors from the gasoline. "It worked perfectly," said Jones. "It foamed up just like thick whipping cream." Engine 21 is one of the department's newer engines and is equipped with the foam.

Washington State Ferries crews helped by making announcements to keep the crowds of ferry passengers informed. "WSF was excellent," said Jones. Because of the holiday weekend, there were over 100 cars on overload. Some people in line for the early afternoon ferry had to wait until 10:30 p.m. to board a ferry.

After eliminating the danger, fire department personnel stood by until 11:30 p.m. while IPS took care of the cleanup. "Charlie and Lynn (Meyer) should be commended for having all the right equipment," said Galer. The containment dikes contained the fuel except for five gallons which ended up in the saltwater when the foam was sprayed on.

Tuesday morning, 1,500 gallons of water/foam/gasoline had been pumped into a tanker. Galer said the liquid will be transported to a refinery to be processed.

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