PHOTOS: At 3:27 p.m. on Friday, September 6 Orcas Island Fire and Rescue responded to reports of a structure fire in the 6300 block of Deer Harbor Road. Crews arriving on scene confirmed a large home completely engulfed in flames.
“The heat was incredibly intense,” shared Firefighter Ben Luna, who was first on scene. “It was completely involved.” With confirmation of nobody inside the structure, crews initiated a defensive attack – fighting the blaze from the exterior only, with a focus on protecting neighboring exposures and ensuring life safety.
Due to the power of the heat and flames, crews were unable to complete an initial 360 degree assessment of the property. Battalion Chief Patrick Shepler quickly called for assistance from San Juan Fire, who sent a compliment of firefighters aboard the fireboat Sentinel.