Request from the

Lopez Fire Department

The Lopez Fire Department is asking for the community’s help. The Lopez Firefighters and EMTs are ready to respond to emergencies when they are on the island. They carry pagers and have them on their dressers and nightstands so that during the day or in the middle of the night they respond to help their neighbors. Using the tax dollars Lopezians have provided to Lopez Island Fire and EMS, the fire department has purchased vehicles and equipment to render assistance in times of emergency. Local firefighters and EMTs respond safely and try to reach islanders with a minimum of delay. Minutes are precious when trying to save a life or stop a fire.

The aid vehicles and fire apparatus are wide and have extended wheelbases and are 10 to 12 feet high. These vehicles carry life-saving medical supplies and firefighting water and equipment. Many of the private roads and driveways the responders must drive on are too narrow, have overhanging tree limbs and/or sharp turns that will cause delays or damage to the emergency vehicles enroute to help islanders in the time of their greatest need.

As spring approaches the fire department is asking islanders to keep roads a minimum of 10 feet wide and 12 feet high and if there are sharp turns to widen the drive at that point to 12 to 14 feet. Clearly marking driveways with the house numbers a minimum of four inches high on signs with a background different than the color of the numbers allows responders to quickly identify that they have arrived at the correct address.

In severe medical, trauma or fire emergencies these simple steps can mean the difference between life and death. Please contact Jim Ghiglione, Lopez Fire Chief at 468-2991 or jghiglione@lopezfire.com for more information.