Meet Your Volunteer Firefighter

Here’s Sheila Harley with this month’s Volunteer Firefighter…

Harry See, Tender Operator – Contributed photo

Harry is one of the oldest fire fighters in the San Juan Island Fire Rescue organization. He joined the District about 20 years ago and at age 65, he is still going strong!

He earned a Masters degree from Antioch West University at San Francisco in clinical psychology and a BA in Viticulture (the art of wine making). The family business was the Silverado Winery in the Napa Valley of California where he worked for twenty years before he and his wife, Maureen, came to San Juan Island to get a change of venue, slow down and spend more time together. He is still waiting for that to happen.

Between owning and running his full service property management company, Cedar Rock Properties, the fire department, boating, and his own gardening, Harry is far too busy for retirement.

Twenty years ago, when Capt. Diane Timm asked Harry if he would like to join the Fire Department he asked, “Do I get to drive the fire truck with sirens? Do I get a hat and Tshirt?” ( Every little boy’s dream!) When she promised all those things, Harry was hooked! In a year he was made lieutenant and later Captain at Station 34. He also ran the fire boat for the town of Friday Harbor helping to upgrade that system.

When he was thinking it was time to leave the fire department because he was getting older, he really wasn’t ready for retirement. So he and others formed the Tender Program and are developing the Engineer program so that older, still very useful firefighters can stay with the department and provide the much-needed service of getting water to the fire by running the engine pumps that deliver the water from the hoses to the fire.

Along the way, Harry was on the Safety committee for 15 years, been squad boss for wildlands fires, done rope rescue and vehicle rescue, and has helped develop the Evap Program course for driver training evaluation for the fire department and Emergency Medical Services as well.

It is a “very good feeling being part of this group“. There is “nothing like going into a burning building and putting that fire out. You just feel so good about that“, Harry says. “It is a dedicated group of different personalities who are all giving their time to give their services. There is excitement, fun, and interesting things to learn that apply to one’s personal life. Most of all, there is such satisfaction from a ‘save’.”

San Juan Fire Rescue welcomes all interested men and women, ages 16 years and above to drop by the Mullis Street Station and make an appointment to see what we are all about. Look online at www.sjifire.org for lots of good information. Or you could view our FaceBook page: San Juan Island Fire & Rescue. Our phone number is 360-378-5334. We would be be pleased to talk with you.

Wildlands Fire classes begin June 20th. Enroll now.

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