At approximately 8:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10, Orcas Island Fire and Rescue received a call to respond to a vehicle versus tree accident involving a San Juan County Sheriff’s deputy. A tree, measuring roughly 3-feet in diameter, fell during the windstorm and landed on top on the deputies vehicle.

All on-duty personnel, as well as multiple volunteers, responded to the scene. “When you hear a call go out and you know it is one of your own on the other end waiting for you to get there, it is an indescribable feeling,” says the

“When you hear a call go out and you know it is one of your own on the other end waiting for you to get there, it is an indescribable feeling,” said paramedic Jeff Larsen. “We are all a brotherhood. We work with these guys on a daily basis and we are one family.”

First responders were immediately hindered by the tree which had crashed on the car blocking the roadway. Volunteer responders and even two off-duty deputies responded with department and personal equipment to assist in tree removal to open the road for responders. Just prior to the arrival of medical personnel, the deputy involved in the incident was able to free himself from the vehicle and was being attended to by deputy Steve Johns.

The deputy involved in the incident was treated and released from the scene with only minor injury.