FIRE DANGER
Low
BURN PERMITS
EMERGENCY UPDATES
NONE.
Burn Season is open -
permits valid until
May 31st, 2024
Help us Update
the San Juan County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
A diverse group of local emergency responders, land managers, and forestry experts from over a dozen agencies and tribes are updating the San Juan County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), and we need your input!
Join us on Monday, October 14 to share your ideas and concerns about wildfire preparedness!
Time: 5:30-7 pm; in person at the Village Fire Station (2228 Fisherman Bay Rd)
or via Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85383551484?pwd=TDPcUwJgrclfQFCdbBiavjsGbF9IKK.1
Meeting ID: 853 8355 1484; Passcode: 618523
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Burn Permit Season OPEN
as of October 1st, 2024
​During the open burning season, permits are required for residential and commercial-size burn piles. Residential burns may be up to ten-feet in diameter.
Permits cost $20 and are valid from date of purchase through May 31st, 2024
Commercial burn permits are $300, require heavy equipment, water on site, and field inspection prior to burning.
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Please note that the San Juan County Fire Marshall determines burn restrictions and burn bans.
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SJC Fire Marshal's Website https://www.sanjuanco.com/1088/Fire-Marshal
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ARE YOU WILDFIRE READY?
GET YOUR FREE WILDFIRE READY PLAN TODAY!
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Wildfire is a fact of life. But when we come together as neighbors, we can reduce the risk wildfire poses to our properties, homes, and communities.
By working together, everyone benefits! Sign up today to get your free Wildfire Ready Plan and schedule a consultation from our local wildfire experts.
From the Fire Chief -
You might be tempted to skirt the burn restrictions with the false assumption that “nothing will happen to me”.
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This morning Lopez Fire responded to, and luckily was able to extinguish, an easily preventable wildfire. This wildfire developed from someone burning weeds with a propane torch over 12-hours earlier.
We would like to remind you that fire danger is high and there should be no open flames or unattended fires. Weeds, garbage, and other non-firewood materials are not permissible to be burned during this season.
Please limit all fires to campfires; three feet or less in diameter, built on bare soil, gravel, or in a fire bowl. Keep your fires well away from structures and make sure to put fires dead out before leaving them unattended.
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2023 Call Details
In 2023, Lopez Fire and EMS responded to:
14 fires
17 fire alarms
423 medical calls (including car accidents)
5 search and rescue calls
3 hazardous condition calls
16 burn complaints
37 public assistance or non-life-threatening events
How Fire-Safe is YOUR Home?
We have all seen the dangers of house fires here on the Island this year. The good news is that there are simple and very effective steps you can take to protect yourselves and your loved ones.
Home Safety Checks - where a Firefighter comes to your house to check your home for fire safety improvements that you can easily make - are a proven way to reduce fire injuries and deaths.
Contact the Lopez Fire Department to schedule a (free) Home Safety Check.
How Lopez Fire and EMS uses social media
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I noticed, after our recent informational post on Facebook, there is some confusion as to how we as an agency utilizes social media platforms. While we may post on sites like Facebook and Twitter, we utilize these sites as tools to inform the public of emergency activities in the hopes that it will deter people from entering the emergency zone; this happens quite often and can be dangerous to responders and the public. We do not monitor the site and will not give emergency information over these platforms, except as a follow up to an emergency broadcast already delivered through conventional means. If there is an incident that directly impacts your safety, you will have already been contacted either in person or through the County's reverse 911 system.
We also, as an agency, do not routinely respond to comments on our social media sites. If you have any questions for Lopez Fire and EMS, please call the office or use the contact option on this web site.
Thank you,
Adam Bigby
Fire Chief
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March 26th 2024
February 11, 2024
MacKaye Harbor Structure Fire
Press Release
February 13th, 2024
SAN JUAN COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT 4
Lopez Island Fire and EMS Department
2228 Fisherman Bay Road
Lopez Island, WA 98261
On Sunday, February 11th, Lopez Fire and EMS responded to a structure fire in the 700 block of MacKaye Harbor Road. On arrival crews found the rear of the structure heavily involved and the fire spread very quickly throughout the single-family residence.
Despite the efforts of Lopez firefighters, the structure is a total loss. The home continued to smolder overnight and crews remained on scene to manage any flareups. Fire crews made access to the structure during the daylight hours on Monday to extinguish any remaining hot spots and recover valuables for the residents. The Red Cross was contacted to offer assistance to the structure's residents, who were luckily able to get out of the home quickly and with minimal injuries.
Lopez Firefighters, EMS and Logistics crew members all responded to this incident along with assistance from OPALCO and The American Red Cross. One resident received minor burn injuries while trying to extinguish the fire with an extinguisher. There were no injuries to fire personnel. Chad Kimple the County Fire Marshall was on scene Monday morning to investigate and determined the fire was accidental and caused by an unattended pan on a stove top.
UPDATE:
January 14, 2024
Whiskey Hill Structure Fire
February 1st, 2024
from SAN JUAN COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL NEWS
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On Sunday January 14, 2024, Lopez Island Fire and EMS responded to a structure fire in the 500 block of Whiskey Hill Rd. The Fire Department arrived to a working structure fire and confirmed all occupants were accounted for. Fire suppression efforts were made effectively during the cold and freezing conditions.
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No injuries to the homeowners, the public, or first responders were reported. Lopez Island Fire and EMS requested the San Juan County Fire Marshal respond to investigate the cause and origin of the fire.
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The fire investigation has been ruled accidental in nature involving a portable, electric oil-filled heater.
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The San Juan County Fire Marshal would like to remind all homeowners to have working smoke detectors, at least one portable fire extinguisher, and an escape plan in case of a fire.
Contact:
Chad Kimple, San Juan County Fire Marshal, (360) 378-3473 (FIRE), firemarshal@sanjuanco.com
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link: https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1557
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Press Release
January 14th, 2024
SAN JUAN COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT 4
Lopez Island Fire and EMS Department
2228 Fisherman Bay Road
Lopez Island, WA 98261
On Sunday, January 14th, Lopez Fire and EMS responded to a structure fire in the 500 block of Whiskey Hill. Upon arrival, crews found a single family dwelling with smoke and fire showing. Because of the steep terrain and icy conditions, efforts are ongoing to completely extinguish the smoldering. The Red Cross has been contacted and is helping to find housing for the structure's residents. Crews are expected to be onsite into Sunday night.
We would like to credit our Firefighters, EMS and Logistics crew members. There have been no injuries, to crew or residents. Damage estimates are unknown at this time and the fire remains under investigation by the the San Juan County Fire Marshall, who was on scene soon after the Incident was paged out. No cause has been determined at this time.
San Juan County Fire District 4 reminds everyone to have working smoke alarms in their homes and to have an escape plan, practice it, and be prepared to use it in the event of a fire.
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Wildfire Mitigation and Risk
There has been a lot of concern about wildfire here on Lopez since the recent, tragic events in Maui. The County Fire Chiefs, County Emergency Management, and our partnering agencies met August 22nd to put together messaging to answer some common questions we have all been getting, that document is posted below. I invite you to click the link below to sign up for the County Dept of Emergency Management reverse 911 emergency alert system. You don't need to be signed up to get alerts but this will allow alerts to be sent to you via the phone numbers and email addresses of your choice. Click on San Juan County Emergency Management below to access their full site. As Always, Lopez Fire and EMS is available for Fire Wise visits to your home, call or use the contact link in the menu above to request a visit.
ABOUT
San Juan County Fire District No. 4 is a rural fire district that serves Lopez Island in the San Juan archipelago in Washington state. Lopez Fire and EMS operates from 4 stations providing emergency services to a 29 Square mile first due response area with a year-round population of approximately 3000, that more than doubles with vacationing visitors. The community is a mixture of residential, agriculture, forest land, and commercial with some industrial manufacturing facilities and a wide variety of recreational areas. The community is heavily impacted by tourism, with visitors coming to utilize the area for outdoor activities. This includes fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, and boating. Population increases can fluctuate up to 7,000 visitors at any given time, depending on the season.
The fire district is governed by a 3-member elected board of Fire Commissioners and is operationally overseen by the Fire Chief who works with very capable administrative and field personnel. Currently Lopez Fire and EMS has 3 career Captains on rotating 48-hour shifts and 2 career Firefighter EMT's who work 10-hour days. The majority of emergency personnel respond from home to our 4 fire stations strategically located throughout the island. Lopez Fire and EMS provides the community a wide range of services utilizing career and volunteer personnel, including structural and wildland firefighting, ALS/BLS ambulance transport services, rescue services, and operations Level HAZMAT.
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San Juan County Fire District 4 is funded through both a general tax levy and an EMS levy. Together these levies generate approximately 94% of our operating revenue. The second source is fee-for-service Advanced Life Support services, which generates 3% of our operating revenue, Lopez Fire and EMS never bills Lopez Island residents for services not covered under insurance.
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