Emergency Services
San Juan Island Fire & Rescue (SJIF&R) provides all-hazard emergency response throughout our district 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Our dedicated team of career and volunteer firefighters stands ready to protect our island community.
When to Call 911
Always call 911 for emergencies. Don't hesitate—we'd rather respond and find a minor situation than have you delay calling during a true emergency.
Call 911 immediately for:
- Fire or smoke in a building, vehicle, or wildland area
- Medical emergencies including chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, or unconsciousness
- Vehicle accidents with injuries or hazardous conditions
- Water emergencies including boats in distress, swimmers in trouble, or marine accidents
- Hazardous materials including gas leaks, chemical spills, or suspicious odors
- Rescue situations where someone is trapped or in danger
When you call, be ready to provide:
- Your location — the street address or a description of where you are
- The type of emergency — fire, medical, accident, etc.
Stay on the line with the dispatcher until they tell you it's okay to hang up. They may provide life-saving instructions while help is on the way.
By the Numbers
Want to see how we're performing? View our live incident statistics including response times, call volumes, and regional breakdowns—updated daily from our incident reporting system.
Our Emergency Services
Structural and Wildland Firefighting
Our firefighters are trained to combat fires in buildings, homes, and outdoor environments. San Juan Island's mix of residential areas, forests, and grasslands requires expertise in both structural firefighting techniques and wildland fire suppression.
We respond to:
- House and building fires
- Chimney fires
- Vehicle fires
- Brush and grass fires
- Wildland fires threatening structures
Our personnel maintain certifications in structural firefighting, wildland firefighting, and the Incident Command System (ICS) to ensure coordinated, effective responses.
Marine Response
As an island community surrounded by the waters of the Salish Sea, marine emergencies are a critical part of our mission. SJIF&R operates Fireboat 31, the only fire boat in San Juan County, providing 24/7 response to maritime emergencies including boat fires, vessels in distress, water rescue, and medical transport from the outer islands.
Learn more about our Marine Response program →
Vehicle Extrication
When motor vehicle accidents result in trapped occupants, our crews are equipped and trained to perform technical rescue operations. Using hydraulic rescue tools (commonly known as the "Jaws of Life"), spreaders, cutters, and other specialized equipment, we work quickly and safely to free trapped individuals.
SJIF&R responds to vehicle accidents throughout the island, often working alongside San Juan Island EMS to provide immediate medical care while extrication is underway.
Search and Rescue
SJIF&R participates in search and rescue operations on San Juan Island, working in coordination with the San Juan County Sheriff's Department and other agencies. Our personnel are trained in:
- Ground search techniques
- Water-based search operations
Our island environment presents unique challenges, and our team trains regularly to handle searches in varied terrain—from dense forests to rocky shorelines.
Level 1 HAZMAT Response
As a Level 1 HAZMAT (Hazardous Materials) response agency, SJIF&R is trained to identify hazardous materials, establish safe perimeters, and take defensive actions to protect the public. Common HAZMAT responses include:
- Natural gas leaks
- Carbon monoxide alarms
- Fuel spills
- Unknown substance investigations
For more complex hazardous materials incidents, we coordinate with regional HAZMAT teams and the Washington State Department of Ecology.
Our Coverage Area
SJIF&R protects San Juan Island and several surrounding islands in San Juan County. Our response district (shown in red) includes:
- San Juan Island
- Brown Island
- Henry Island
- Johns Island
- Pearl Island
- Spieden Island
- Stuart Island
Through prior arrangements, we also provide coverage to outer islands and support neighboring districts when needed.
Mutual Aid Relationships
Emergency response doesn't stop at district boundaries. SJIF&R maintains strong partnerships with neighboring agencies to ensure our community receives the best possible emergency services.
Local Partners:
- San Juan Island EMS
- San Juan County Sheriff's Department
- San Juan County Fire Marshal
- Orcas Island Fire & Rescue
- Lopez Island Fire & EMS
State and Federal Partners:
- Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — SJIF&R holds formal contracts with DNR to provide fire coverage and pre-hospital care to outer islands in our archipelago
- US Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound — mutual aid arrangements for marine emergencies
- Washington State Fire Service Resource Mobilization — SJIF&R participates in the statewide mobilization plan, sending wildland fire crews to support communities throughout the western United States
Questions?
Have questions about our emergency services or want to learn more about what we do? Please contact us—we're always happy to connect with our community.
Interested in serving your community? Learn how to join our team as a volunteer or career firefighter.