From Nehalem Bay Fire & Rescue: Engine 14 (Type 3 Engine) and two of our NBFR firefighters departed our station today. They’re enroute to join Clatsop County Strike Team. There they will meet and then head towards the devastating fires that are occurring in Southern California. In total, Oregon is sending 12 strike teams with 240 firefighters and 60 engines.
This response is through the Oregon State Fire Marshal which received the request from Oregon Department of Emergency Management through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. This allows states to help other states with personnel, equipment and supplies during emergencies and disasters.
We wish all firefighters in Oregon a safe deployment to California.
ODF firefighters are anticipated to arrive at the incident command post tomorrow, at which point they will be briefed on the situation and then assigned where needed. The two-week rotation in California will allow our firefighters to return the favor to our California partners, who sent resources to support Oregon last summer.
Deputy Director of Fire Operations Kyle Williams said, “The Oregon Department of Forestry’s leadership in the wildland firefighting arena makes our firefighters ready for any scenario and sending that expertise to California to help our fellow firefighters in their time of need is the least we can do to support our partners.”
The 70 firefighters are being sent to California via state-to-state mutual assistance agreements with CalFire. When wildfire activity is low in Oregon, firefighters can be spared to help in places experiencing high fire activity.
“We understand how difficult it can be to need help so desperately. Especially after this past season in Oregon, where we saw an amazing outpouring of support from our out-of-state partners during Oregon’s record-breaking fire season,” said Chris Cline, ODF’s Fire Protection Division Chief.
This past summer was a record-breaking year for the state with over 1.9 million acres burned. Quickly, Oregon’s in-state resources were depleted while more fires continued to pop up. In response to our call for help, Oregon was sent resources from about 20 U.S. states and multiple Canadian provinces and territories, including California who sent 21 high-demand positions.
“These agreements help bolster the complete and coordinated fire protection system across the country and create a cache of reciprocal resources for all of us to call on when needed.” Cline explained.
Through these mutual assistance agreements with other states, including Alaska, Hawaii and NW Canadian territories, we can share resources with one another, creating a larger, faster comprehensive fire management system.
ODF’s strike teams’ expenses will be reimbursed by the state of California.
