— Article contributed by Sheila Harley, San Juan Island Fire & Rescue

Brandon Baney has been on San Juan Island for 20 years, coming from Santa Rosa, Calif. with his mother when he was five years old.

He attended our school system all his life. Computer science was his favorite subject. He enjoyed the challenge.

Brandon has a wife, Heather, two children, a boy and a girl. He works in construction with Carlson Enterprises, both here and around the region, based on where the job sites are.

If all the above isn’t challenging enough for a young man, Brandon is presently taking emergency medical technician training here on San Juan Island. He has energy to burn.

What brought Brandon to join the San Juan Island Fire and Rescue? He felt he needed something positive in his life—something to keep his blood pumping.

First, he took the Wildlands Fire Fighting class, which is held every June. It consists of two weekends of learning how to deal with environmental fires. This he highly recommends.

Then he went on to take the Firefighter 1 class this past year and was named 2013 “Rookie of the Year”. He says he had no idea what the firefighters really did before he went  through the training.

“It was awesome,” Brandon says.

He had to overcome some fears, but overcome them he did with no regrets. Now he considers his firefighting duties some of the most satisfying and fulfilling he has ever had the privilege to be involved in.

“If someone’s worst day is having a fire to deal with and the firefighter can make it better, that is what is all about,” Brandon says. “Here you are, going into the situation when everybody else is coming out. Helping my community. How satisfying and electrifying is that?”

He is pictured here in front of his favorite fire truck—Ladder 317. Brandon had a few friends at Station 31 before he joined the department and hopes a few more of his friends will take up the challenge.

If you would like to learn what it is all about, come to the fire station on Mullis Street to visit, or call the station at  378-5334 for more information.

San Juan Island Fire & Rescue is always looking for volunteers to join them in protecting life and property.