SOUTH WHIDBEY FIRE/EMS HONORS FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS (EMTS), Dec 28, 2021As 2021 winds down, South Whidbey Fire/EMS recently recognized staff and volunteers for their service to the department in 2020. The department also said farewell to three retirees: Chris Blasko with 22 years of service, Eldon Baker with 26 years of service, and Jim Towers with 35 years of service on the line. Towers transitioned in November to serve as a Fire Commissioner.
FLASHPOINT: FALL/WINTER 2021 NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE, Dec 16, 2021We hope that you all have a safe and happy holiday sea-son. We’ve all experienced many changes in the last two years, some personally, some professionally. Your fire department is no different.
DRIVE-THRU SANTA’S SLEIGH TO BRIGHTEN THE HOLIDAYS, Nov 29, 2021It’s not too early to start embracing the spirit of the upcoming holiday season. A tradition since 1995, due to the pandemic last year, Santa’s Sleigh was reimagined. This year the team at South Whidbey Fire/EMS has once again devised a safe and streamlined way for the South Whidbey community to experience Santa’s Sleigh. The drive-thru event extends for several hours on three consecutive evenings…
ERICKSON AND TOWERS TO SERVE AS NEW FIRE COMMISSIONERS, Nov 9, 2021South Whidbey Fire/EMS welcomes new fire commissioners Savannah Erickson and Jim Towers. Erickson was elected to Position 3 during the Nov. 2 general election, and will be sworn in at the Jan. 13, 2022 fire commissioner meeting.
SWFE INVITES YOU TO TRUNK-OR-TREAT ON OCT 22ND, Oct 18, 2021The public is invited to join South Whidbey Fire/EMS at a “Trunk or Treat” event on Friday, October 22 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the top of the hill at Station 36, 5579 Bayview Road. A fire engine will be parked between the event and a designated area for public parking.
OUTDOOR BURN BAN LIFTED, Oct 1, 2021Due to the increase in fuel moisture levels and a return to more typical seasonal weather patterns, the Fire Marshal will lift the ban on outdoor burning in Island County as of midnight tonight (September 30, 2021).
TYPE I BURN BAN IN EFFECT, Sep 23, 2021OUTDOOR BURN BANIN ISLAND COUNTYMODIFIED / RETURN TOTYPE I BURN BAN IN EFFECT
SOUTH WHIDBEY FIRE/EMS FIRE COMMISSIONER SOUGHT TO FILL VACANCY, Sep 16, 2021South Whidbey Fire/EMS Commissioner Mike Noblet was elected chairman at the Sept. 9, 2021. Previous Commission Chair Larry Metz resigned since he is relocating outside of the district this month, making him ineligible to serve.
SOUTH WHIDBEY FIRE/EMS STAFFS UP TO MEET GROWING DEMAND, Aug 9, 2021For the first time since its formation in 1950, South Whidbey Fire/EMS will consistently have a full time crew on duty 24 hours a day. The addition of four full time firefighter/EMTs brings the total to 12. They are grouped into three shifts of four people. Each shift is on duty for 24 hours, followed by 48 hours off. The new staffing begins on August 1.
FLASHPOINT: SUMMER 2021 ISSUE NOW AVAILABLE, Jun 29, 2021As is true for everyone, this has been a challenging year for us. We greatly appreciate the care and concern that you have shown us as we all have coped with the COVID pandemic. We also appreciate the steps you have taken to protect yourselves, which makes our job easier.
TYPE 1 BURN BAN IN EFFECT (JUNE 30TH), Jun 25, 2021OUTDOOR BURN BAN IN ISLAND COUNTYAS OF 12:00 NOON, JUNE 30, 2021
LIVE FIRE TRAINING PLANNED, Jun 18, 2021We will be having a Live Fire Training event all day Thursday, June 24, 2021. This event will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Firefighters will be practicing their firefighting skills with an acquired structure and live fire, after lunch the firefighters will allow the fire to consume the building. The address of the site is 5661 Harbor Ave, Freeland WA 98249. The public is welcome to watch from a…
FIRST RESPONDERS RESCUE YOUNG ELEPHANT SEAL “ELWOOD”, Apr 29, 2021At 7:27 PM on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, South Whidbey Fire/EMS was called for a seal caught in a storm drain near Old Beach Road in the Mutiny Bay area. Responders from South Whidbey Fire/EMS, Island County Sheriff’s Office, Langley Police Department, and the Orca Network arrived to find a young Elephant Seal trapped in a vault of a storm water drainage system in the lawn of a condominium complex.
FIREFIGHTER/EMT TESTING ANNOUNCEMENT, Apr 7, 2021South Whidbey Fire/EMS will be establishing a list for future hiring to the position of Firefighter/EMT. This list will be effective for at least one year after it is established.
FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES UPCOMING COMMISSIONER ELECTIONS, Apr 6, 2021South Whidbey Fire/EMS seeks a new fire commissioner to fill Position 3, to be vacated by Frank Mestemacher at the end of the year. Mestemacher recently announced he is not seeking re-election after completion of his six-year term, which ends December 31, 2021.
FLASHPOINT: WINTER 2021 NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE, Mar 15, 2021We continue to be grateful that you allow us to serve you. Our emergency responders, volunteer and career, continue to do a great job of protecting our community and themselves when they go on calls. I also want to recognize our Administra-tive staff who all work very hard to ensure our department runs smoothly. I am proud of each of our hard working members.
NEW YEAR BRINGS POSITIVE CHANGES TO SOUTH WHIDBEY FIRE/EMS, Feb 5, 2021South Whidbey Fire/EMS hired three new staff members in January by configuring its team to be more cost effective and efficient. The department filled one vacancy and created two new positions, bringing in-house critical services it historically contracted to outside vendors.