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01/18/2007: "FHFF Association Annual Awards"

(left to right: om Eades-Whispering Pete Award; Zaim Melic-Outstanding Firefighter of the Year; Tony Smith-Driver of the Year; Matt DelGrosso-Rookie of the Year; Ron Garner-Outstanding Service Award; Dave Moorhouse-Community Service Award)

Friday Harbor Fire Fighters Association held their annual Year End Awards Banquet last weekend at the Peppermill Restaurant. Attending, among others, were the Mayor of Friday Harbor, members of the Town and County councils, past fire chiefs, Thrift store employees, firefighters from both town and district three, and many friends and guests.

The crowd was informed and entertained by slide shows and a presentation on the Town fireboat and its value to the community. Most recently the fireboat helped the port save the sinking Friday Harbor Seafood boat in Friday Harbor

Barb Low is the first person to be selected as the Firefighter of the Month for 2007. Barb Low serves with the Friday Harbor Fire Department

Some think that here on San Juan Island only men don fire gear and rush into burning buildings. Barb Low is proof that that is not so! Barb joined the Friday Harbor Fire Department in 2002 and when asked why, she replies, "I wanted to help my community, give back, and make a difference." It was sentiments such as these that brought her and her husband, County Fire Marshal- Bob Low, to the island in the first place. They came to San Juan to aid Bob's aging grandparents who were experiencing poor health, and decided to stay.


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Barb's desire to "help out" is also what led her to be a National Disaster Relief Volunteer for the American Red Cross. In 2005 she was one of three Friday Harbor Firefighters who helped with relief efforts in the Southeast during the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

Whether at work cleaning house, reading, knitting, or out enjoying the beauty of the island that she loves so much, when that pager goes off, Barb heads in to the Town Firehouse.

"Barb has some of the highest response numbers in the department, and I have no worries heading into a fire with her on my attack team," said firefighter Andy Urbach.

The people and the camaraderie are two of the aspects she likes best about the Fire Department, and she especially enjoys working with the elementary school children during Fire Prevention Week. It is of the "Search and Rescue" and "Live Fire" training she completed at the Washington State Patrol, Fire Training Academy in North Bend that she is most proud.

When asked: "What comes to mind when you hear, 'Only on San Juan Island'?" Barb replies, "How this community pulls together to help each other in time of crisis," and adds with her ever present smile, "Being able to talk to the pharmacist about my DOG's problems."

She explains her perfect day off as: "Sleeping in, a little exercise, then a latte; a good book; sitting by a fire with my cat on a cold day." I hope she got a chance to do just that during the snow.one never knows when that pager will go off.