HomeMy WebLinkAbout070725 email Structure and Vegetation Fire on Hood HeadALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Commissions & et. al.,
I am writing this message to inform you of an unusual incident but to also highlight how well the various agencies are working together.
A little before 15:00 this afternoon JeffCom dispatched EJFR to multiple reports of dark smoke coming from Hood Head. EJFR sent our Battalion Chief and Engine 8 from the Bridgehaven
Fire Station. Upon arrival, they confirmed the smoke but could not see the source from at the base of the bridge at the Shine Tidelands Beach.
Interesting factoid for Hood Head inhabitants. Their only fire protection is DNR; they are not within the legal boundaries of EJFR or any other fire district. We contacted DNR and they
formally requested support from EJFR in the form of one of our vessels and its crew.
EJFR requested a drone from JCSO for reconnaissance and Sergeant Derrick Allen was nice enough to come from home on his day off with the JCSO drone. The drone confirmed the worst; a
small cabin had burned to the ground and the fire spread to the forest immediately around the cabin. Luckily for us, the wind is mild, and the tree canopy is very thick, so the fire
did not make any big runs in the vegetation (yet).
EJFR’s Marine 1 and her crew are supporting DNR’s incident, shuttling DNR firefighters and equipment to the island. I think they have about a dozen firefighters on the island at this
writing. A water dropping helicopter has been on scene for the past hour and is pulling water from Teal Lake. They will be fighting the fire until about 22:00 tonight, then start again
in the morning. The crew of Marine 1 are getting a terrific opportunity to utilize their skills. Well done to Marine Pilot Lieutenant Andy Dalrymple and Deckhand Firefighter Curtis
Berry.
DNR has asked EJFR to staff our boat again tomorrow in support of the incident. We are paging out for an extra crew for tomorrow and will be proceeding with the reimbursement process
from DNR. The County Fire Marshal was notified, and he was very interested in the incident since they were out there last week for a code issue.
Today’s event unfolded seamlessly which was due to professional collaboration from JeffCom, JCSO, JCFM and DNR with our Battalion Chief. The loss of a cabin is unfortunate, but “no injuries”
is the best possible outcome.
Thank you,
Bret Black - Fire Chief
Cell 360-381-0292
bblack@ejfr.org <mailto:bblack@ejfr.org>