Update: Oregon Firefighters Mobilized to Assist with California Wildfires
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon State Fire Marshal is deploying six additional strike teams of water tenders to Southern California to assist with ongoing wildfires. In total, 30 water tenders and 70 firefighters from 11 Oregon counties will join efforts to combat the fires.
The fire personnel and equipment are coming from Clackamas, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Morrow, Multnomah, and Umatilla counties. These units will join 15 other strike teams that arrived in California Thursday and began operations Friday morning.
The new teams will depart Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Upon arrival, they will undergo a safety check to ensure the well-being of the responders before receiving assignments from CAL Fire.
“We understand the gravity of the disaster unfolding in California, and we are leveraging the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System to provide additional resources to help fight these wildfires,” said Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple. “Our system ensures that we can support California while maintaining coverage for our communities here at home.”
Water tenders are specialized trucks designed to transport and deliver large quantities of water to fight wildfires. Some of the water tenders being deployed are new tactical tenders delivered to Oregon fire agencies through the OSFM Engine Program in 2024.
To date, the Oregon State Fire Marshal has mobilized:
- 21 strike teams
- 75 fire engines
- 30 water tenders
- 370 firefighters
Dangerous fire conditions are expected to continue in Southern California through next week. For updates on the fires, visit CAL Fire's Current Emergency Incidents webpage.
The Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System includes more than 300 local fire agencies statewide. During emergencies, the Oregon State Fire Marshal coordinates these resources to protect people, property, and infrastructure.
This deployment was requested by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which enables states to send personnel, equipment, and supplies to assist during governor-declared emergencies. California will reimburse Oregon for the resources provided.
