San Juan District 3, DNR firefighters extinguish wildfire on Satellite Island

A total of 16 San Juan District 3 firefighters worked Sunday afternoon to Monday morning to contain a wildfire on the eastern side of uninhabited Satellite Island, next to Stuart Island. Between 4 and 12 acres were burned, San Juan District 3 Fire Chief Steve Marler said. - Top photo: Julie Corey. Bottom photo: Monika Wieland
Top photo: Julie Corey. Bottom photo: Monika Wieland
A total of 16 San Juan District 3 firefighters worked Sunday afternoon to Monday morning to contain a wildfire on the eastern side of uninhabited Satellite Island, next to Stuart Island. Between 4 and 12 acres were burned, San Juan District 3 Fire Chief Steve Marler said.

July 28, 2010 · Updated 10:04 AM 

  • 0
  • Print Story
  • Letter/Editor

A total of 16 San Juan District 3 firefighters worked Sunday afternoon to Monday morning to contain a wildfire on the eastern side of uninhabited Satellite Island, next to Stuart Island.

Between 4 and 12 acres were burned, San Juan District 3 Fire Chief Steve Marler said. District 3 is contracted by the state Department of Natural Resources to provide initial firefighting response on DNR land in San Juan County. San Juan Island firefighters spent the night bringing the blaze under control, using materials they took with them on the Sheriff’s boat Guardian, the Friday Harbor town fireboat Confidence, and a state parks landing craft.

Firefighters spent the day Monday extinguishing hot spots. They were relieved by DNR firefighters by 10 a.m. Monday. Marler didn’t know the cause of the fire late Monday; he said DNR sent an investigator to the scene.

Marler thanked the agencies that helped get shifts of local firefighters – almost half of District 3’s firefighting force – to and from Satellite Island.

“Sheriff Bill Cumming and Jim Ricks made plug three or four trips today on the Guardian,” Marler said.

The first shift of firefighters came home to more work at 9 p.m. Sunday; they extinguished a quarter-acre grass fire on Prohaska Lane, near Wold Road. The cause: Illegal fireworks, Marler said.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.

So keep your comments:

  • Civil
  • Smart
  • On-topic
  • Free of profanity

We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters. We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please refer to our Terms of Use for full detail on participating on our site.

blog comments powered by Disqus