Emergency Fire & Medical Response
Prepared for Anything
Emergency Medical Services
Guemes Island Fire Department provides first-response emergency care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These services can be accessed by calling 911. Our EMS response is two-tiered; GIFD responds first with basic life support (BLS) personnel. Anacortes Fire Department provides advanced life support (ALS) care and, when necessary, Medic transport to Island Hospital. Airlift Northwest and Life Flight Network provide helicopter transport if circumstances warrant it.
Medical Officer Karen Anderson administers Guemes Island emergency medical operations. She supervises and oversees training for the island's emergency medical technicians (EMTs) team. This team can provide BLS care, including O2 support, CPR, defibrillation, epinephrine for allergic reactions, and Narcan for opioid overdoses. All EMTs are certified and registered with the Washington State Department of Health and must participate in continuing education annually. BLS operations are supported by a 2005 Medtec ambulance.
Fire Suppression
Guemes Island has approximately 900 year-round residents, with that number about doubling from mid-spring through mid-fall. During the summer, warm weather can bring in several thousand vacation residents. Recent upgrades to vacation housing have contributed greatly to reducing fire risks, but in many areas, houses are on narrow lots, creating the potential for multiple structures to be involved any time a fire occurs. The island is also heavily wooded, making the risk of wildland fires and wildland/urban interface fires a significant issue during the summer's warm, dry days.
The department's fire suppression apparatus includes 2 Pumpers/Engines, a 4000-gallon tender, and a brush fire and support unit. By using a port-a-tank and shuttling water with our tender, we are able to maintain a constant water supply at fire scenes.
Wildland Fire Services
With wildfire danger increasing in Western Washington, all of our personnel are trained in the latest techniques to ensure their safety. We also have the ability to receive mutual aid from many other districts in Skagit, as well as the Department of Natural Resources.
Motor Vehicle Rescues
A delicate approach is necessary to minimize injury during this type of operation. Our well-trained personnel are fully equipped with the tools needed to deal with these situations while reducing damage to both properties and humans.
Guemes Island Fire Department carries the Jaws of Life and Rescue 42 automobile stabilization gear to help ensure the safety of victims and firefighters at motor vehicle accident scenes.