Submitted by San Juan Island Fire and Rescue

On the morning of Friday, July 12, San Juan Island Fire and Rescue crews responded to a 911 call reporting a residential fire in the area of Westcott Bay on San Juan Island.

Upon arrival, firefighters found the home to have smoke emanating from vents under the home. The owner of the home had evacuated with his pets and there were no injuries. The fire scene was sized up, evaluated and firefighters began extinguishing the fire.

The fire was difficult to contain due to the restricted space where the fire and smoke were. The fire scene was active for the remainder of the morning to ensure the fire had been fully extinguished. Firefighter’s rapid response helped limit the spread of the fire, although there was damage to a portion of the home’s crawl space and in one bedroom.

San Juan Island Fire Chief Norvin Collins said, “Our career and volunteer firefighters train throughout the year so we are ready to protect our community. We were able to safely and rapidly extinguish this challenging fire and to save the home.”

In addition to career and volunteer firefighters, the San Juan Island Fire and Rescue logistics team assisted on-site teams. The owner of the home, along with the homeowner’s pets, were offered assistance for temporary housing and other needs.

Chief Collins added, “I am grateful for the assistance of neighbors during today’s fire. We always appreciate your support.”