Sam Fletcher reports from the Oak Harbor City Council meeting of Tue., Oct. 15, 2024 for the Whidbey News-Times.
A property owner recently donated the Oak Harbor Fire Department two buildings to set on fire.
Firefighters will conduct live fire training on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 725 and 760 Southwest 29th Place. The city council unanimously authorized the mayor to sign a hold harmless agreement between the city and the donor, Preston Heights LLC, on Tuesday.
Fire Chief Travis Anderson said he will take the opportunity to test the department’s new technology, recently purchased thermal imagers to help locate victims shrouded in flames and smoke.
They Said It
Anderson invited the council to suit up and enter the blaze, and Councilmember Bryan Stucky concurred that “it’s interesting and exciting and informative to be out there.”
The training is valuable not only to the fire department but to the community, said Councilmember Shane Hoffmire.
“You wouldn’t think you’d be able to feel the heat through all that gear, but it’s still hot as heck,” he said. “I remember telling (Former Chief Ray) Merrill that it seemed like if any one of our residents could spend a couple minutes in there, they would certainly support everything (the department does), including levies.”
