About

I joined the Orcas Island Fire Department in 1982, when women volunteers were rare. The fire service was changing, adding medical, rescue and community support. I stayed on as a volunteer and took up a Public Information and Safety title until 2010, when my firefighter husband and I moved to Winthrop Washington. We joined Okanogan County FD6 as volunteers and the adventure continues. This isolated community has the usual structure fires, motor vehicle crashes and some of the biggest wild fires in the United States. Our small department has responded to the front line each time, giving thousands of hours to protecting our valley as well as responding to calls for assistance from neighboring counties. This is an overview of our continues service through the CoVid Pandemic of 2020-2021.