North Whidbey
Fire and Rescue
About Us
Mission Statement
The Mission of North Whidbey Fire and Rescue is to enhance the quality of life for our community, promote public safety, and provide emergency services to protect and preserve life and property.
Our Story
Established in 1950, North Whidbey Fire and Rescue (NWFR), is a special purpose district created under the Washington State title 52 RCW (enacted in 1933). Formerly known as Island County Fire District #2, NWFR is one of 420 fire protection districts in Washington State. Each fire protection district is governed by an elected Board of Fire Commissioners.
NWFR provides fire services for the North Whidbey Island, outside of the city limits, from Deception Pass Bridge to Libby Road. North Whidbey Fire and Rescue has grown to include 7 fire stations, an administrative headquarters, 15 pieces of apparatus, 1 basic life support ambulance, and 3 command vehicles to cover 55 square miles and a population of approximately 18,000 citizens. NWFR's areas of coverage do not include the City of Oak Harbor or the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, each has its own Fire Department. In 2019, NWFR personnel responded to 2,221 calls for emergency services.
Our Services
Fire
Suppression
The primary goal of North Whidbey Fire and Rescue is to protect life, property, and the environment. Most of our fire suppression personnel are certified at the Washington State Firefighter I level. They are consistently being trained to ensure all skills are maintained at the highest level possible.
Emergency Medical Service
The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division, in concert with other local EMS divisions, participates in shaping pre-hospital care through collaboration with Whidbey General Hospital. These relationships have allowed the division to meet the needs of the community. The District operates 1 fully equipped Basic Life Support (BLS) fire apparatuses daily staffed with a minimum of two Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).
Marine
Search and Rescue
The Marine Search and Rescue Team provides emergency response and mitigation to incidents that occur within Island County. The Marine Team expertise includes search, rescue, and recovery operations and providing assistance to citizens and/or vessels in distress.
Technical
Rope Rescue
North Whidbey Fire and Rescue includes a Technical Rope Rescue unit. This capability allows for highly trained personnel and associated equipment to address emergencies involving high and low-angle rescue. Our technical rope rescue unit can be utilized for many different rescue scenarios including both humans and animals.
Wildland
Fire Fighting
Wildfire will burn anywhere that dry fuels are present, so our wildland firefighters are often sent to very remote areas of the state. Wildland fire crews specialize in creating fireline, so their training consists of digging line with specialized tools, operating chainsaws, conducting burn operations, and moving debris and vegetation away from the fire line.