Although many agencies throughout Washington are sending crews to help with fires in Eastern Washington, Central Whidbey Fire & Rescue is not one of them.

Charlie Smith, deputy fire chief with Central Whidbey Fire, said that one of the department’s part-time firefighters, Trenton Taylor, is helping out in Eastern Washington but he’s there representing the National Guard.

With so many resources assigned to help with the worst fire season in state history, Smith said it’s more important than ever for the community to be mindful of fire prevention on Whidbey Island.

It got him to thinking about the 10-acre Fort Ebey State Park fire in July when the Department of Natural Resources came to help with a helicopter.

With what’s happening in Eastern Washington, Smith couldn’t imagine that happening a second time.

“If we get something big, I don’t know where other resources would come from,” he said. “They’re just so limited. The second- and third-string fire defenses are all assigned.”

Four firefighters from North Whidbey Fire and Rescue are helping crews battle the Stickpin Fire this week in northern Ferry County.