New book for the next 100…

Written by retired Chief Rick Galer, the book is available at the fire station....

Nancy Tiederman tells me there’s a new book about the history of firefighting here in Friday Harbor by Rick Galer – we’ve come a long way from getting buckets of water from the harbor to put things out. (Here’s proof – from 2002’s great fire – click here). Here’s more about what’s going on with the celebration & the book, from Nancy:

100 Years of Fighting Fires in Friday Harbor

In the early 1900’s, Friday Harbor Fire Department had a special line to phones in Herb’s Tavern and the American Legion.  When the phone rang, customers put down their beers and rushed out the door to man the water buckets.  The only water sources were the bay and the spring on the street between what is now the Drug Store and the theatre.    There was no truck.

100 years later, when the pager screeches and dispatch says “Stand by for Page,” fire fighters leave their offices, stores, trucks, even ferries, head to the fire station, put on bunker gear and start up the big engines on the fire trucks to head to the fire.  Dispatch gave them the report and the location.  Once on the scene, they lay out hose and give the incident commander time to determine the center of the fire and how best to fight it.  This all happens in minutes.

The fire trucks still carry the big axes used to cut holes in roofs and doors, but today’s fire fighters use chain saws.

The town’s fire fighters, men and women, meet every Monday night to learn techniques, skills and to drill, drill, drill.  As well as fighting fires, they teach fire safety in the elementary school, put on the Easter egg hunt, meet Santa at the port and bring him into town. They founded and support the town’s Thrift House.  They also clean up debris once a fire has cooled, and they have helped rebuild burnt homes for fellow citizens.  They are volunteers who like to help their neighbors.

In July, the Friday Harbor Fire Department will be celebrating 100 years of serving the community. They invite everyone to drop by the fire station on West Street where they will be firing up barbeques to serve the public dinners and lunches on July 3rd and 4th and cooking the traditional Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, July 5th.  You can read more interesting stories about the history of the department in the book Hose  Carts and Fire Hydrants, edited by retired Fire Chief Rick Galer and available for sale at the fire station.

The old engine, in the 2002 Fourth of July parade....

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