Other News
May 22, 2025: San Juan County Elections Disability Advisory Committee Annual Meeting June 10 at 9:00AM
May 17, 2025: Need Urgent Community Support: Tell Governor Ferguson to Sign HB2049 and Increase Funding for Lopez School
May 16, 2025: One Month Mark: County’s Pilot Transport Services Shows Steady Ridership & Variety of Uses
May 14, 2025: Hazardous Waste Round-Ups: What Lopez and Orcas Residents Need to Know Before Drop-Off Day
May 7, 2025: Auditor Seeks Writers of Argument against Lopez Island Library and Lopez Island School District Ballot Measures
May 2, 2025: Plastic Free Salish Sea Sets Sail with the San Juan Island Yacht Club and Washington State Parks
Apr 25, 2025: New Daily Service Schedule, Growing Ridership & Other Insights on County’s Pilot Transport Services
Apr 24, 2025: Building and Land Use Permits, Long-Range Planning Projects, & Staff Recruitments: DCD Leadership Provides Spring Update
Apr 4, 2025: 2025 Comp Plan Update: Transportation Element, Plan Intro, & Administration Piece Ready for Review
Mar 19, 2025: San Juan County Establishes Interim Inter-Island Transportation Services as RFP Process Continues
Mar 7, 2025: 2025 Comp Plan Update: Climate Element and Draft Official Map Amendments Available for Review
Mar 6, 2025: Governor Ferguson announces plan to restore Washington State Ferries to full service by this summer
Mar 4, 2025: Public Meeting: Land Bank Using Prescribed Fires to Manage Wildfire Risks & Restore Ecosystems
Feb 19, 2025: San Juan County Seeks Proposals from Transportation Service Providers for Pilot Project
Feb 12, 2025: Call for Candidates: Three-Day Special Filing Period for Lopez Metropolitan Park District Commissioners
Jan 19, 2025: Four districts, six unions, three PTAs, and county leadership all agree: legislators must take action to fully fund education no
Dec 19, 2024: San Juan County Parks and Fair Announces New Camping Software; Delaying Reservation Availability
Dec 10, 2024: County Council Considers Extending Agreement with Lopez Solid Waste to Allow for More Collaboration
Dec 5, 2024: San Juan County to Consider Updated Interlocal Agreement with Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District
Dec 2, 2024: San Juan County Council Sets Public Hearing for Cultural Access Sales Tax at Dec. 10 Meeting
Nov 25, 2024: San Juan County Celebrates Completion of Lopez Skate Park and Calls for Inaugural Skaters
Nov 7, 2024: How Has Extreme Weather Impacted You? Participate in the County’s Climate Resilience Planning Effort
Nov 1, 2024: UPDATE: Sea Wall Repairs Temporarily Close MacKaye Harbor Dock and Boat Ramp on Lopez Island
Oct 22, 2024: DRAFT North Shore Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Oct 21, 2024: Reminder: You’re Invited to Attend Open Houses for the 2025 Comp Plan Update This Fall
Oct 1, 2024: LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE SAN JUANS SPONSORS OCTOBER COUNTY COUNCIL VOTER FORUMS ON SJI, ORCAS, AND LOPEZ
Sep 24, 2024: County Hosts Community Meeting on Lopez Island to Discuss Public Safety during Hunting Season
Sep 24, 2024: SJC Reviews Shoreline Habitat & Infrastructure Adaptation Strategies in the face of Sea Level Rise
Sep 23, 2024: DRAFT Watmough Bay Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Aug 29, 2024: San Juan County’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Survey Sets Baseline for Ongoing Change
Aug 27, 2024: 2024 San Juan County WSU Master Gardeners Gardening Workshop Series, October 15-24, 2024
Aug 27, 2024: County Representatives Discuss Solutions to Ferry Service Disruptions with Governor Inslee
Aug 21, 2024: County Council’s Request to Governor for Relief from Ferry Service Disruptions Not Fulfilled
Aug 20, 2024: San Juan County Certifies Primary Election Results & Celebrates Highest Primary Turnout in Years
Aug 13, 2024: WSF Commits Additional Crews to Interisland Route to Ensure Service During County Fair Week
Aug 13, 2024: Ferry Data from Staff and Local Partners Shapes Council Request for ‘Executive Relief’ From WA State
Aug 5, 2024: The Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival returns to Lopez for its 27th Summer Concert Season
May 2, 2024: WA State Governor and Assistant Secretary of WSF Talk Ferry Service & Solar Power with SJC Officials
Apr 11, 2024: Community Meeting: Sea Level Rise Adaptation for Outer Bay and Agate Beach Areas on Lopez Island
Mar 11, 2024: Queers in Unexpected Places: Searching for (and Finding) Gender and Sexual Non-Conformity in the Rural and Early PNW
Mar 7, 2024: DRAFT Richardson Marsh Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Dec 5, 2023: County Council Member Jane Fuller and Senator Liz Lovelett to Host Public Meeting on Lopez
Nov 3, 2023: County and Town Send Open Letter to State Officials Regarding Impacts of Poor Ferry Service
Sep 29, 2023: Conservation Land Bank Announces Special Meeting to Discuss Watmough Bay Preserve Addition
Sep 14, 2023: The mobile dental van is coming to Lopez! // ¡La camioneta dental móvil ya llega a López!
Aug 22, 2023: San Juan County Adopts 32-Hour Work Week in the Name of Fiscal Health, Recruitment, and Islander Wellness
May 25, 2023: Recap of Lopez Neighborhood Meeting Regarding the Relocation of Public Works Facilities
May 23, 2023: District 3 Councilmember Jane Fuller Opens Office on Lopez and Hosts Community Conversation
Apr 17, 2023: Give Lopez Starts April 17th - A two week fundraiser benefiting 15 Lopez Island Non-Profits
Sep 22, 2022: Interim Watmough Preserve Addition Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Friday Harbor Fire
Apr 8, 2022
By Kim Kimple, Orcas Island Fire
Update on the Fire in Downtown Friday Harbor.
What a day! First and foremost, I want to thank you all for your patience as we worked to provide up to date information on the incident in Friday Harbor. I would also like to recognize the following agencies who provided support during this incident: San Juan County Dispatch, San Juan Island Fire, Orcas Island Fire, Lopez Island Fire, San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, San Juan EMS, Skagit Fire District #14, Sky Valley Fire, South County Fire, Department of Emergency Management, Washington State Ferries, San Juan County Fire Marshal’s Office, local utility companies, the Town of Friday Harbor Public Works, M.E.M. Excavation, and the Region 3 Arson Taskforce which provides fire investigation resources from Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San Juan Counties. It really took the teamwork of our local region to ensure this incident was mitigated safely and effectively.
The fire was reported near the intersection of 1st and Spring Street at 3:43 a.m. by a local tow truck driver. Crews arrived on scene and implemented an offensive interior attack prior to withdrawing and engaging in a full defensive attack as the fire spread to surrounding structures. Crews worked tirelessly protecting exposures including several other buildings in close proximity.
A total of six structures sustained fire damage, three of which were a total loss, and multiple surrounding businesses remain closed due to the heavy smoke that filled the air and surrounding HVAC systems. It is unclear how many businesses are impacted by the fire at this time, though we have confirmed there were at least six businesses located within those totaled structures including a tavern, a coffee shop, real estate offices, a wine bar, a kayak tour business, and private offices.
This fire has come as a devastating blow to the community of Friday Harbor, leveling businesses and destroying historical landmarks - some dating back as early as late 1800’s.
Fire officials have calculated an early estimate of 10-million-dollars in losses and will know more as they continue to assess the full extent of the damage.
Crews will remain on scene through the night to provide chain-of-custody of the scene and provide suppression on any remaining hot spots.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, and the Arson Task Force will be assisting local fire officials in the investigation due to the magnitude of this fire. The investigation is anticipated to be ongoing throughout the coming week.
No injuries were reported throughout the duration of the incident and no individuals were believed to be in the building at the time of the fire.
The fire was reported near the intersection of 1st and Spring Street at 3:43 a.m. by a local tow truck driver. Crews arrived on scene and implemented an offensive interior attack prior to withdrawing and engaging in a full defensive attack as the fire spread to surrounding structures. Crews worked tirelessly protecting exposures including several other buildings in close proximity.
A total of six structures sustained fire damage, three of which were a total loss, and multiple surrounding businesses remain closed due to the heavy smoke that filled the air and surrounding HVAC systems. It is unclear how many businesses are impacted by the fire at this time, though we have confirmed there were at least six businesses located within those totaled structures including a tavern, a coffee shop, real estate offices, a wine bar, a kayak tour business, and private offices.
This fire has come as a devastating blow to the community of Friday Harbor, leveling businesses and destroying historical landmarks - some dating back as early as late 1800’s.
Fire officials have calculated an early estimate of 10-million-dollars in losses and will know more as they continue to assess the full extent of the damage.
Crews will remain on scene through the night to provide chain-of-custody of the scene and provide suppression on any remaining hot spots.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, and the Arson Task Force will be assisting local fire officials in the investigation due to the magnitude of this fire. The investigation is anticipated to be ongoing throughout the coming week.
No injuries were reported throughout the duration of the incident and no individuals were believed to be in the building at the time of the fire.