Submitted by OIFR

The U.S. Coast Guard, Orcas Island Fire and Rescue, San Juan County Sheriff Office, and Outer Island Excursions responded to an emergency call at Sucia Island at 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25. There was an incident on the island with an individual needing immediate medical attention.

Outer Island Excursions provided a vessel to take members of the OIFR marine response team to Sucia Island to meet up with the Coast Guard and Sheriff Deputies who responded on the multi-use public safety vessel, the Sentinel.

Interim Orcas Fire Chief, Scott Williams covered the primary role of paramedic and fire coverage while the on-duty paramedic and a crew of four marine technicians launched on the M/V Blackfish III. The M/V Blackfish III is a large whale watching vessel, specially equipped to hold a Stokes Rescue stretcher and EMS medical gear inside a closed cabin.

“It is rewarding when we can help our community through coordinated public-private partnerships like this, ” said Beau Brandow, owner of Outer Island Excursions.

OIFR established a Marine Technical Recuse Division in 2015. In cooperation with YMCA Camp Orkila, Outer Island Excursions, the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, selected private boat owners and the U.S. Coast Guard, OIFR is able to respond to Emergency Medical calls on remote shorelines of Orcas Island and to Outer Islands by request from other San Juan County agencies. In the event OIFR responds to Outer Islands, Paramedic service will always be maintained on Orcas Island.

This is the seventh marine rescue by OIFR in 2016, rescuing approximately twenty-two people in total. Thirty OIFR members are part of the Marine Technical Rescue Division under the leadership of Battalion Chief Bryce Hamilton.