Expert: Decatur Island lacks structural firefighting resources; OPALCO to prepare fire mitigation plan
San Juan County testimony highlighted limited firefighting resources on Decatur Island, DNR responsibility for unprotected islands, and local brigades’ limited training and water supplies; OPALCO said it will prepare an operational fire mitigation plan and that DNR raised no comments on the application record.
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Jordan Pollock, a division chief with San Juan County Fire & Rescue who also consults on island wildfire training, told the hearing that Decatur Island is classified as "unprotected" under Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) arrangements and does not have a local fire district or a hydrant system. Pollock said local volunteer brigades have limited training and water capacity and that off‑island assistance commonly exceeds an hour under ideal circumstances.
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