La Madera · District 4 · Station 49
Can We Find Your Home?
A clear address and an accessible driveway help crews reach the right place. Use these illustrated examples to review your property in daylight and after dark.
Illustrations show general placement ideas, not construction specifications. Sample numbers are fictional. For property-specific gate, driveway, bridge, or turnaround questions, contact the department.
1. Make the Entrance Easy to Recognize
Harder to find
A number on the house may be too far from the road. Vegetation can hide even a well-made sign.
Easier to find
Place clear, high-contrast reflective numbers at the entrance. Check visibility from both directions, including after dark.
2. Mark Shared Driveways and Every Decision Point
1236 →
A crew should not have to guess which branch leads to your home. Identify the addresses served at the entrance, then add clear directional markers at forks or turns.
Keep markers visible as vegetation grows. Confirm the number on your sign matches your assigned physical address.
3. Plan for Gates and a Clear Approach
- Discuss locked or powered gates with the department before an emergency.
- Keep parked vehicles and stored materials out of the access route.
- Ask about low branches, tight turns, turnaround space, bridges, and other access concerns.
- Do not assume a driveway that fits a passenger car will accommodate emergency vehicles.
Try the Roadside Check
From a safe location, have someone unfamiliar with your driveway look for your address from both directions. Repeat after dark. Can they identify the entrance and follow every turn to your home?
Do not stand in traffic or enter a roadway to perform this check.
During a 911 Call
Give your physical address and explain shared driveways, gates, or an entrance that GPS may miss. If safe and without delaying care, unlock the entrance, turn on outside lights, and secure pets. Tell the dispatcher about any access barrier.
Keep gate codes private. Do not post codes or hidden-key locations on this website. Contact the department to discuss appropriate access arrangements.
Guidance: Orcas Island Fire & Rescue addressing guide, National 911 Program.