News Release

Building at Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve destroyed by fire

Date: July 20, 2023
Contact: Carrie Mitchell

Coupeville, WA. – A multipurpose building used as an office, small workshop and equipment storage shop at Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve in Coupeville, WA on Whidbey Island was destroyed in an afternoon fire on July 19. An individual sustained a minor facial injury during the fire.

A report was made at 12:07 p.m. yesterday that Farm 1, also known as the old Engle farm, was fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters arrived on the scene at 12:15 p.m. and had the fire under control at 2:29 p.m.

Park officials say the structure is a complete loss. The fire destroyed farm implements and equipment, office records, miscellaneous tools, a boat, and several vehicles, including a boom truck, forklift and pickup truck.

The site is under a National Park Service farm-agricultural lease with Island Potato, LLC, until May 17, 2030. The 7,250-square-foot building, constructed in 1989, was the operational hub of a working farm.

Multiple local fire departments responded to the incident, including Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue, South Whidbey Fire/EMS, North Whidbey Fire and Rescue, Oak Harbor Fire Department, Island County Sheriff's Office, Coupeville Marshall, the roads division of Island County Public Works, and fire crew from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the NPS.

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 424 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

www.nps.gov