Fire Department · Combination
San Juan Island Fire Department
Friday Harbor, WA · San Juan County
Combination department: small career/paid staff supported by a much larger volunteer force across 9 stations, including outer-island brigades on Brown Island and Stuart Island reachable only by boat.
No active openings right now
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Department careers page ↗San Juan Island Fire & Rescue, formally San Juan County Fire Protection District 3, protects Friday Harbor and the surrounding San Juan Islands from a headquarters on Mullis Street backed by five other stations on San Juan Island and three outer-island stations reaching Brown Island and Stuart Island. The department pairs a small career staff with a much larger volunteer roster, and notes that most of its paid personnel started out as volunteers with the organization.
Crews respond to structure fires, medical assists, vehicle incidents, and marine emergencies across the archipelago, running structural engines, wildland brush trucks, water tenders, a rescue unit, and a dedicated fast-response boat suited to the marine environment unique to island firefighting. Response times vary sharply by geography: calls in the central area near headquarters are typically reached in under five minutes, while the more remote north and south ends of the ferry-dependent, water-separated district can take considerably longer.
The department has seen recent leadership changes and operational improvements, and has been actively growing its ranks, swearing in six new firefighters in May 2026 alone. It runs annual structural and wildland firefighting academies to bring new volunteer recruits online each year.
MissionPreserving life, protecting property, and safeguarding our community through unwavering commitment to emergency response and community risk reduction.
San Juan Island Fire & Rescue recruits volunteer structural and wildland firefighters year-round, with applicants folded into an annual training academy. The department is especially looking for volunteers living near its satellite stations in the Cattle Point/Cape San Juan, Egg Lake/Three Corner Lake/Miller Road, and West Side Road/Sunset Point areas.
Requirements
- Complete an online volunteer application (accepted year-round)
- Pass an interview and background check
- Pass a department-paid physical exam for fitness, cardiac health, and respiratory health before training begins
- Complete the structural firefighting academy and wildland firefighting module
Hiring process
- Submit the online volunteer application with District 3
- Interview and background check
- Receive an invitation to join based on results
- Complete a department-paid physical exam
- Attend the structural academy (roughly January-April) followed by the wildland module (late April-early May)
Benefits
Volunteer members in good standing receive a monthly stipend, plus paid opportunities to sign up for 12-hour response shifts at the station and 24-hour standby shifts. The department covers the cost of the pre-academy physical exam.
The 2026 Structural Firefighting Academy runs January 3-April 11, with the Wildland Firefighting Academy following April 25-May 3. Training is generally held Wednesday evenings and Saturdays, with a few Sundays for specialized topics; the bulk of instruction takes place at department headquarters, with some off-island workshops.
Who is San Juan Island Fire & Rescue looking to recruit?
Individuals interested in becoming qualified structural and wildland firefighters, with particular need for volunteers living in the Cattle Point/Cape San Juan, Egg Lake/Three Corner Lake/Miller Road, and West Side Road/Sunset Point areas.
What does the application process involve?
Applicants submit an online application, go through an interview and background check, and if selected receive an invitation to join followed by a department-paid physical exam covering fitness, cardiac health, and respiratory health.
When does volunteer firefighter training take place?
The 2026 structural academy runs January 3 through April 11, with training generally on Wednesday evenings and Saturdays (plus a few Sundays), followed by the wildland firefighting module from April 25 to May 3.
How are volunteer firefighters compensated?
Members in good standing receive a $225 monthly stipend, with the option to pick up paid 12-hour response shifts ($70 each) and 24-hour standby shifts ($30 each).
Why volunteer with the department?
The department says volunteering helps keep the community safe, improves emergency response times, and can help reduce homeowners insurance costs on the islands.