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03/21/2008: "Not What It Appears"

(-Rebecca Smith photo)

By Brad Cressy

San Juan Island Fire Department members from across the island took part in a live fire training exercise on Saturday at Yacht Haven Rd. Property owners Gayle and Wayne Laufer donated an older home to the Firefighters’ Association for use in training.

Before lighting actual fires, the firefighters used smoke bombs to fill the house with smoke, and practiced locating possible victims and rescuing trapped firefighters. All this was done with less than six inches of visibility inside the structure.

Later, fires were set in the house and firefighters responded to search the building and extinguish the fires. Then they “overhauled” the scene to locate any fire hidden in the walls or ceiling.


After a great lunch provided by the department’s logistics volunteers, additional live fire evolutions took place until the house became unsafe to continue to work in.

Donated houses provide invaluable training for the department volunteers. With the fortunately low number of structure fires on the island, these trainings allow newer firefighters to gain experience not available elsewhere. With this practice and higher level of confidence, they can respond safely and effectively when a true fire emergency occurs.

The department welcomes new volunteers and will offer its annual Wildland Firefighter training during the last two weekends of June. You may contact the department for more information at 378-5334. Structural firefighting training is scheduled for the fall.