Guemes Island has approximately 500 year round residents, with that number about doubling from mid spring through mid fall.  During the summer, warm weather can bring in several thousand vacation residents.  The island is approximately 5 miles east and west by 3 miles north and south.  Recent upgrades to vacation housing has contributed greatly to reducing fire risks, but in many areas houses are on narrow lots creating the potential for the involvement of multiple structures anytime a fire occurs.  The island is also heavily wooded making the risk of wildland fires and wildland/urban interface fires a significant issue during the warm, dry days of summer.
        The departments fire suppression apparatus includes a 2005 Pierce Pumper, a 1990 Seagrave pumper, a 2006 Freightliner 4000 gallon tender, and a 1991 Ford F350 brush fire and support unit.  Over the past 20 years, water supply hydrants and standpipes have been installed and upgraded at numerous locations around the island ensuring sufficient water for suppression efforts is always close at hand.  By using a port-a-tank and shuttling water with our tender we are able maintain a constant water supply at fire scenes.