Special Sections - Whidbey Firefighter Salute 2019

2019 WHIDBEY ISLAND

SALUTE TO FIREFIGHTERS

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOUTH WHIDBEY RECORD & WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES

WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM

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Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times

Know your fire department Four public fire departments protect Whidbey Island and Oak Harbor city limits, from Deception Pass Bridge to its citizens. Whether it’s a car accident, injury or fire, volun- Libbey Road. North Whidbey Fire and Rescue has grown teers and career firefighters will be there to help. to include seven fire stations, an administrative head-

South Whidbey

South Whidbey Fire/EMS was established as Island County Fire Protection District #3 by local community volunteers in 1950. It serves 15,000 residents and an estimated daily population of 25,000 within 66 square miles of South Whidbey Island.

Central Whidbey

Central Whidbey Island Fire & Rescue (CWIFR) serves approximately 8,264 residents and many visitors within 50 square miles of Central Whidbey Island from three fire stations. CWIFR’s response stretches from just south of Libbey Road to just north of Mutiny Bay Road and spans the breadth of the island. This predominantly rural area includes the Town of Coupeville and the unincorporated community of Greenbank.

quarters, 15 pieces of apparatus, two basic life support ambulances and three command vehicles, to cover 55 square miles and a population of over 15,000.

North Whidbey Fire and Rescue provides services to the community, by organizing, coordinating, and directing available resources to respond to the event and bring the emergency under control. The goal of North Whidbey Fire and Rescue is to protect public health by minimizing the impact of the event on the community and environment.

Oak Harbor

Oak Harbor Fire Department (OHFD) serves the City of Oak Harbor. OHFD protects the 9.714 square mile city (including several miles of shoreline) and an estimated population of 23,000.

OHFD is a combination fire department with one station staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by career and paid-on-call firefighters. Station 81 houses four fire engines, one ladder truck, one rescue unit and various North Whidbey Established in 1950, North Whidbey Fire and Rescue support vehicles. provides fire services for North Whidbey Island, outside

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Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times

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OAK HARBOR FIRE DEPARTMENT Craig Anderson

Jim Anema

Don Baer

Brandon Bailey

Angela Braunstein

Dallas Brodt

Mike Buxton

Mendoza Cameron

Andrew Carroll

Serloyd Carter

Conor Ching

Tom Cross

Mike Engle

Benjamin Fikse

Josh Fikse

Kevin Frondozo

Chris Garden

Zack Greenberg

Otto Haffner

Ron Hancock

Jeff Heiserman

Shannon Holcomb

Fire Chief Ray Merrill Deputy Chief Mike Buxton Captain Don Baer

Haffner, Otto Hancock, Ron Heiserman, Jeff Holcomb, Shannon Hopkins, Cameron Jansen, Dwayne Jansen, Jake King, Mike Lange, Ryan Martin, Dan Mccalmont, Steve

Captain Mike Engle Captain Paul Schroer Captain in Training Craig Anderson Lieutenant Ed Klaszky Administrative Assistant Angela Braunstein Anema, Jim Bailey, Brandon Brodt, Dallas Cameron, Mendoza We are grateful Carroll, Andrew and very proud of Carter, Serloyd the work you do.

Ching, Conor Thank you!

Cross, Tom Fikse, Benjamin Fikse, Josh Frondozo, Kevin Garden, Chris Greenberg, Zack Resource and Design Center for Contractors and Homeowners CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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On behalf of your co-workers and your community, thank you women and men of EMS and Firefighters. Your hard work and dedication serve to keep us safe and healthy every day.

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Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times

OAK HARBOR FIRE DEPARTMENT Cameron Hopkins

Dwayne Jansen

Jake Jansen

Mike King

Chief Ray Merrill

Ryan Merriman

Robert Mirabal

Jim Reynolds

Travis Stanford

Ed Klaszky

Ryan Lange

Dan Martin

Steve Mccalmont

Jon Roberts

Rich Rodgers

Paul Schroer

Mark Soika

Lolly Titherington

Frank Sy

James Williams

Dennis Wright

Be aware of hazards, and the top causes of fires

COOKING

■ Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.

HEATING ■ Heating equipment is a leading cause of fires in U.S. homes. Local fire departments responded to an estimated average of 52,050 fires involving heating equipment each year in 2012-2016, accounting for 15 percent of all reported home fires during this time.

These fires resulted in annual losses of 490 civilian deaths, 1,400 civilian injuries, and $1 billion in direct property damage.

ELECTRICAL ■ Electricity helps make our lives easier but there are times when we can take its power and its potential for fire-related hazards for granted.

SMOKING ■ Smoking materials, including cigarettes, pipes, and cigars, started an estimated 17,200 home structure fires reported to U.S. fire departments in 2014. These fires caused 570 deaths, 1,140 injuries and $426 million in direct

property damage. Smoking materials caused 5 percent of reported home fires, 21 percent of home fire deaths, 10 percent of home fire injuries, and 6 percent of the direct property damage.

CANDLES ■ From 2012-2016, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 8,200 home structure fires that were started by candles per year. These fires caused an annual average of 80 deaths, 770 injuries and $264 million in direct property damage.

(National Fire Prevention Association)

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Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times

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NORTH WHIDBEY FIRE & RESCUE NWFR Staff Adespya, Andrey Beard, Lindsay Biller, Joe Interim Chief.jpg Boberg, Mark Bonet, David Brandhorst, Lt. Shane Breaux, Nikki Browning, Ben Canty, William Carnes, David Chastain, Chris Cheman, Bill Conto, Ann Cooper, Bill Dahl, Dylan Dorosrenko, Meagan Drieu, Antionne Eby, Ian Esperum, Dale Fealey, Guy Fisher, Tim Goen, Comm. Jerry Goen, Comm. Jerry Hanson, Dave Hanson, David Henderson, Catherine Henderson, Mike Hernandez, Chris Hoctor, Thomas Holly, Slothower Hoover, Richard Horr, Cliff Horton, Lt. Dan Jackson, Scott Kelsey, TJ Koorn, Commissioner

Koorn, Joshua Lacy, Captain Steve Lacy, Jon Lamont, Chairman Levandowski, Skye Maletto, Michael Marc, Boberg Mayhew, Tom Mohlsick, Lt. Tom Myrum, Micheal O’Conner, Captain Jim O’Conner, Captain Jim (of the marine rescue team) O’Neill, Nicole Pelzer, Micheal Powell, Ken Powell, Ken Powell, Michael Powell, Micheal Powers, Lauren Reinstra, Mike Rogers, Deborah Rogers, Ron Schmal, Andrew Schultz, Tim Schultz, Tim Soberman, Andrew Swiger, Batt. Chief Chris Torgerson, Monica Tripp, Hannah Turner, Chris Valencic, Frank Walker, Jon Walton, Ian Wilkie, Carlee Wilson, Lacy Young, Karley Zimmerman, Jimmy de Baker, Paul

Commissioner Marv Koorn

Commissioner Jerry Goen

Commissioner TJ Lamont

Batt. Chief Chris Swiger

Interim Chief Joe Biller

Captain Jim O’Conner

Captain Steve Lacy

Lt. Dan Horton

Lt. Shane Brandhorst

Lt. Tom Mohlsick

Torgerson, Monica

Andrew Soberman

Catherine Henderson

David Carnes

David Hanson

Ken Powell

Lacy Wilson

Marc Boberg

Michael Powell

Mike Henderson

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Thank you for your service!

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Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times

Paul de Baker

Tim Schultz

Tom Mayhew

Andrew Schmal

Andrey Adespya

Ann Conto

Antionne Drieu

Ben Browning

Bill Cheman

Bill Cooper

Carlee Wilkie

Chris Chastain

Chris Hernandez

Chris Turner

Cliff Horr

Dale Esperum

Dave Hanson

David Bonet

Deborah Rogers

Dylan Dahl

Frank Valencic

Guy Fealey

Hannah Tripp

Ian Eby

Ian Walton

Jimmy Zimmerman

Jon Lacy

Jon Walker

Joshua Koorn

Karley Young

Ken Powell

Nicole O’Neill

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

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Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times

Mike Reinstra

Nikki Breaux

Richard Hoover

Ron Rogers

Page Z7

Skye Levandowski

Scott Jackson

Holly Slothower

Growing a vibrant and strong business community Tim Fisher

Tim Schultz

TJ Kelsey

William Canty

STAY CONNECTED.

We salute our brave firefighter heroes.

Thank you for your bravery and sacrifice. www.freeland-wa.org

your local news, in print and online.

WHIDBEY ISLAND CALL TODAY AND RECEIVE ONE (1) ADDITIONAL MONTH

FREE

PICK ONE:

Thomas Hoctor

Call (800) 684-8733 www.evergreentlc.com

“Thank You” isn’t enough to express the gratitude we have for our first responders. The stamina and mind set it takes to be a first responder! They see the worst of the worst. They are the best of the best and show up every day with a gentle hand and kind soul. They show up on scene, nurture and protect you to the best of their ability. Calm you when you are probably in the most stressful moment of your life. It takes a special personality to be a first responder. We appreciate you for choosing to do what you do day in and day out!

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Signature: PO Box 1200 • Coupeville, WA 98239 • 360-675-6611 • 360-221-5300 • whidbeynewstimes.com • southwhidbeyrecord.com Please fill out and send to Circulation Division address shown or bring to our business offices in Oak Harbor, Coupeville or Freeland. On island non-mailed delivery only, within specific north/south delivery routes. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Offer good through 11-30-19. No Cash Value

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Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times

CENTRAL WHIDBEY FIRE & RESCUE Staff Fire Chief Ed Hartin Acting Lieutenant Bob Moore Acting Lieutenant Marvin Raavel Apparatus Operator Brent Stevens Apparatus Operator Chuck Hathaway Apparatus Operator Edward Pratt Captain Andy Griffin Captain Jerry Helm Chief Ed Hartin Commissioner Engle Commissioner Hutchinson Commissioner Messner Deputy Chief Charlie Smith EMT Jessica Shaffer FF Dalton Martin FF Frank Gesing FF Jim Colton FF Ken Lindenstein

Chief Ed Hartin

Capt. Jerry Helm

FF Kolton Kellison FF Mindy Paturzzio FF Ryan Barrett FF-EMT Alex Majestic FF-EMT Dillon Rogers FF-EMT Greg Behan FF-EMT Holly Slothower FF-EMT Jeff Rhodes FF-EMT Jesse Leyva FF-EMT Jim Huff FF-EMT Justin Burnett FF-EMT Keith Andrews FF-EMT Michael Maletto FF-EMT Ryan Smith FF-EMT-Mechanic Mike Matros FF-EMTChris Harris Lieutenant Derik Vrable Lieutenant James Meek Lieutenant Jen Porte

Capt. Andy Griffin

FIREFIGHTERS AND EMS HEROES

American Legion Post 141 South Whidbey Island, WA

PO Box 221, Langley, WA 98260 360-321-5696 post141@whidbey.com southwhidbeypost141.com

Commissioner Hutchinson

Lt. James Meek

Lt. Derik Vrable

Chris Harris

Mike Matros

Ryan Smith

Michael Maletto

Keith Andrews

Justin Burnett

Jim Huff

Jesse Leyva

Jeff Rhodes

Holly Slothower

Greg Behan

Dillon Rogers

Alex Majestic

Ryan Barrett

Mindy Paturzzio

Kolton Kellison

Ken Lindenstein

Jim Colton

Frank Gesing

Dalton Martin

Jessica Shaffer

Commissioner Engle

THANK YOU WHIDBEY ISLAND

Since our charter in 1936, our American Legion Post has been welcoming VETERANS from all branches of our Armed Forces. Today, we continue to welcome all military personnel serving our country. Joining our Post enables you to continue serving your God, Country and Community. Our mission is to implement the goals, aspirations, dreams, peace and blessings for our country, friends and families embodied in our preamble.

Lt. Jen Porte

Commissioner Messner

find us on

facebook!

Island Disposal would like to give our sincerest thanks to all first responders and their families, for their personal sacrifice of their time away from their loved ones in order to keep the Island safe. We appreciate you!

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

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CENTRAL WHIDBEY FIRE & RESCUE

Chris Harris

Derik Vrable

James Meek

Jen Porte

SOUTH WHIDBEY FIRE/EMS Adam Conley

AJ Agnew

Alex McMahon

Anne Collins

Billy Piepenbrink

Brent Davison

Brian Boyd

Carlee Wilkie

Carrie Allen

Chris Blasko

Christina Turnbull

Chuck Baker

Commissioner Adrienne Hawley

Commissioner Frank Mestemacher

Commissioner Kenon Simmons

Dennis Batey

Eldon Baker

Chief H.L. Rusty Palmer

Heidi Beck

Hershel Rostov

Jake Newling

Jeff Cravy

Jeff Simmons

Jesse Jennings

Adam Conley AJ Agnew Alex McMahon Anne Collins Billy Piepenbrink Brent Davison Brian Boyd Carlee Wilkie Carrie Allen Chris Blasko ChristinaTurnbullAgnew Chuck Baker Commissioner Adrienne Hawley Commissioner Frank Mestemacher Commissioner Kenon Simmons Dennis Batey Eldon Baker

H.L. Rusty Palmer_Fire Chief Heidi Beck Hershel Rostov Jake Newling Jeff Cravy Jeff Simmons Jesse Jennings Jim Towers John LeDrew Jon Beck_Deputy Chief Jon Gabelein JudithCanfield Kathy Eyth Kelly McDonald_Admin Ken Lindenstein_ Maintenance Ken Starkweather Kiel Rasp Leah Kalahiki Liz Ratterman

Marc Swenson Mari StAmand Melissa Simmons Michael O’Brien_ Maintenance Mike Cotton_Deputy Chief Naomi Blair Paul Shimada Rebekah Pomeroy Rene Kinser Robert Husom Sarah Pedersen_Admin Sean McDougald Terry Welch Tom Gideon Tom Peterson Tony McNair Vicki Lange_Admin Wendy Moffatt_Deputy Chief

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE & BRAVERY

1690 Layton Rd, Freeland, WA 98249 (360) 331-5211 freelandfamilydental@gmail.com www.freelandfamilydental.com

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Page Z10

Jim Towers

John LeDrew

Jon Beck, Deputy Chief

Jon Gabelein

Judith Canfield

Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times

Kathy Eyth

Kelly McDonald, Admin

Ken Lindenstein, Maintenance

Ken Starkweather

Kiel Rasp

Leah Kalahiki

Marc Swenson

Mari St. Amand

Melissa Simmons

Michael O’Brien, Maintenance

Mike Cotton, Deputy Chief

Naomi Blair

Paul Shimada

Rebekah Pomeroy

Rene Kinser

Robert Husom

Sarah Pedersen, Admin

Sean McDougald

Terry Welch

Tom Gideon

Tom Peterson

Tony McNair

Vicki Lange, Admin

Wendy Moffatt, Deputy Chief

Liz Ratterman

Thank you for keeping us safe Whidbey Firefighters & EMS! (360) 341-4060

CLINTON 11038 State Route 525 360-341-3313 TIRES • WHEELS • BATTERIES • BRAKES • ALIGNMENTS

Create a fire safety plan for your family Fire safety protocol gives people the ability to get out of a building promptly and safely in the event of a fire.

Fires are unpredictable and can cause devastating loss of life and property.

The U.S. Fire Administration states that, in 2017, there were 1,319,500 reported fires that resulted in 3,400 deaths and 14,670 injuries in the United States.

Travelers Insurance company advises people to develop a comprehensive fire safety plan, which can help save lives when used in concert with functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

However, the National Fire Protection Association says only about one-quarter of households actually have developed and practiced a fire-escape plan or have taken measures to prevent fires around their homes.

Here are some ways to stay safe.

• Repair or replace malfunctioning kitchen appliances promptly. Keep them clean and always use them according to manufacturer’s instructions.

• Do not leave a room while cooking. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that most kitchen fires, which can ignite in as little as one minute, start after someone left the room.

• Keep a fully charged and functioning fire extinguisher on the premises, preferably one on each floor of a home or business.

• Do not overload power strips with plugs, and have a licensed electrician inspect and suggest updates to antiquated wiring systems.

• Teach children about the dangers of playing with fire. Keep matches and lighters away from children.

• Pull together all members of an office or household to come up with an effective evacuation plan.Walk through the building and inspect all possible escape routes. Mark two ways out of each room. If a window exit is recommended, have a functioning ladder that can provide safe egress.

• Choose an outside meeting place that is far away from the residence or building, but close enough that it can be easily reached by all.

• Set up a buddy system so that certain members of the family or company will be responsible for helping elderly, young or disabled people exit the premises.

• Practice identifying escape routes, and institute regular evacuation plans so that everyone can function quickly should a fire occur.

Fires can spread quickly and easily claim lives. By addressing fire risks and implementing safety plans, people can save lives.

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Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times

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What you should know about Smoke Alarms Save Lives

The most important things you need to know are smoke alarms save lives and they should be in every home. Follow these important smoke alarm safety measures: • Make sure your smoke alarms are working. This means testing smoke alarms monthly, replacing batteries once a year or when a low-battery alarm chirps and performing other maintenance as NFPA and your smoke alarm manufacturers recommend. And of course, a smoke alarm disabled because of nuisance alarms provides no protection at all.

• It is important to have not just one smoke alarm but smoke alarms in every location required by NFPA standards. (On each level of your home, outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom.) Tens of millions of U.S. homes are estimated to have smoke alarms but not enough smoke alarms to meet the standards and protect their homes.

• Interconnect your smoke alarms so that a fire detected by any smoke alarm will sound an alarm at every location where a smoke alarm is installed. Interconnection can be done using hard-wiring or wireless broadcast technology.

Interconnected smoke alarms provide early warning of fires that are still far away or are located on the other side of a door or wall that may block sound.

• Develop and practice an escape plan so that everyone in the home knows what to do if the smoke alarm sounds.

That includes planning a second way out from every room in your home. Every household that develops and practices an escape plan with two ways out from every location improves its time to escape in every type of fire.

There Are Different Types of Smoke Alarm Technologies—Ionization and Photoelectric

The two most commonly recognized smoke detection technologies are ionization smoke detection and photoelectric smoke detection.

Ionization smoke detection is generally more responsive to flaming fires and photoelectric smoke detection is generally more responsive to fires that begin with a long period of smoldering (called “smoldering fires”). For each type of smoke alarm, the advantage it provides may be critical to life safety in some fire situations.

Home fatal fires, day or night, include a large number of smoldering fires and a large number of flaming fires. You can not predict the type of fire you may have in your home or when it will occur. Any smoke alarm technology, to be acceptable, must perform acceptably for both types of fires in order to provide early warning of fire at all times of the day or night and whether you are asleep or awake.

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The best evidence has always indicated that either type of smoke alarm will provide sufficient time for escape for most people for most fires of either smoldering or flaming type. However, research is ongoing, and standards are living documents. If at any time, research points to a different conclusion, then that will lead to proposals for changes in the NFPA standard or the closely related Underwriters Laboratories standard for testing and approving smoke alarms. Both organizations currently have task groups looking at smoke alarm performance in the current home environment.

For Best Protection Use Both Types of Smoke Alarm Technologies

For best protection, it is recommended both (ionization and photoelectric) technologies be in homes. In addition to individual ionization and photoelectric alarms, combination alarms that include both technologies in a single device are available.

Nuisance Alarms Can Be Minimized

Ionization type smoke alarms are more susceptible to nuisance alarms due to cooking, the leading cause of nuisance alarms, but both types have some susceptibility to nuisance alarms from cooking fumes, and both have susceptibility to nuisance alarms from the steam from a hot shower.

In the past decade or so, a number of steps have been taken to reduce the likelihood of nuisance alarms, including hush features and refinements to installation rules that include guidance on safe distances from nuisance sources.

TV Demonstrations of Smoke Alarm Performance Can Be Misleading

Informal demonstrations, such as ones done for TV news shows, of smoke alarm performance can seriously mislead the viewer and do not provide a sound basis to assess performance. These demonstration tests are not performed in a controlled or scientific way that compares the time of smoke alarm operation to the time when occupants would be incapacitated. The selected fire scenarios may not be representative of real fatal home fires.

Passing or failing a “test” of this sort may have nothing to do with performing well or badly in the wide range of real fires. A valid engineering analysis must select fires that are realistic and analyze them accordingly.

In an informal demonstration, the eye reacts to conditions that look dangerous, mostly visible smoke and visible flame.

However, most people are killed by invisible gases, which do not necessarily spread at the same rate as smoke or flame. A valid engineering analysis must measure conditions caused by fires and assess them according to their real danger.

For more information go to www.nfpa.org/smokealarms

Oak Harbor Fire Department

North Whidbey Fire & Rescue

www.oakharbor.org Follow us at Facebook.com/OHFire

www.nwfr.org Follow us at Facebook.com/northwhidbeyfire

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Saturday, October 26, 2019 • Whidbey News-Times

OCTOBER IS

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Safety Fire

Safety Fire

Never playaround with matches lightersand open fires Be careful stoves,or heaters handle gasoline or other liquids that burn Do not cook unless an adult is present carefulisaround heaters open fires IfBesmoke around,stoves, stay low to theand ground Do not cookif unless an adult is present REMEMBER, something catches on fire, get help. Call 9-1-1 Kids and adults should work together to form an emergency If smoke is around, stay low to the ground plan, including an escape route. Don’t forget to practice the plan.

REMEMBER, if something catches on fire, get help. Call 9-1-1 Kids and adults should work together to form an emergency plan, including an escape route. Don’t forget to practice the plan.

If your clothes catch fire . . .

STOP where you are.

DROP to the ground STOP where you are.

ROLL over and over until the DROP to the ground flames are out, covering your ROLL over and over until the face and mouth with your hands flames are out, covering your face and mouth with your hands