Lummi Island Fire Department

Lummi Island, Washington

The 800+ residents of Lummi Island — an isolated community about 90 miles north of Seattle and 20 miles south of the Canadian border — rely exclusively on an all-volunteer fire department to respond to their calls for fire, rescue and emergency medical services. The department consists of 18 volunteers trained at the FF1, FF2, First Responder and EMT levels, as well as two volunteers with Advanced Life Support training. They respond to 40–50 calls annually and provide vital services to this island community, which offers some unique challenges. The 16-square-mile island has only three hydrants, which are located within 500 feet of each other. And while the population has increased 41 percent over the past 10 years, the only vehicle access to the island is provided by a 43-year-old, 93-foot ferry with a capacity of 18 vehicles and a limited run schedule, especially on the weekends and during severe weather. As a result, the Lummi Island EMS volunteers work in partnership with Airlift Northwest to transport critical patients to St. Joseph’s in nearby Bellingham.

(More patient and partner stories here)