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07/06/2008: "Orcas Island July 4th 8:15 P.M."

(D. N. Kinsey photo)

On just hours before the fireworks display in Eastsound,
the Orcas Island Fire Department was called to the
area of Orcas Road and Dolphin Bay Road


The first 911 call actually came from across Eastsound,
from the Vusario area, as a “large column of smoke”.


(-Orcas Fire Department photos)
The first Orcas Fire units arrived at 700 Swann Rd. to
find a large log cabin home engulfed in flames with
trees burning 75 feet into the air on the right side of
the home. Engine 21 from Eastsound made what Lt.
Patrick Shepler described as, “an aggressive exterior,
defensive attack, to dampen down the fire, extinguish
the trees and protect the area from a wildland fire.”




The fire took ten Orcas Fire units and 27 firefighters to
bring it under control.



“The home was a total loss from the arrival of the first
units, but the application of over a thousand gallons of
water in the first few minutes, combined with a steady
water source via our water tenders ensured the safety
of other nearby homes”, Shepler said.



The cause of the fire is still under investigation at this
time.





The home was owned by Burke Thomas, who was not
home at the time of the fire.