Oregon sends 21 firefighters to North Carolina for wildfire assistance

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) The Oregon Department of Forestry deployed 21 firefighters and one agency representative to North Carolina over the weekend. The deployment was made under state-to-state mutual aid agreements to assist with regional fire management efforts.

These agreements, along with the Northwest Compact, allow fire management organizations to share resources and create a more comprehensive protection system. When wildfire activity is low in Oregon, the state can spare personnel to assist partners experiencing high levels of fire activity.

The firefighting crews arrived in Charlotte, N.C., on Sunday night before traveling to Asheville on Monday morning for an in-brief with local fire leadership. Both crews are expected to be integrated into fire operations on Monday. The personnel include firefighters from the Douglas Forest Protective Association, the Coos Forest Protective Association and several ODF Protection Districts, including South Cascade, Western Lane and Southwest Oregon

Ron Graham serves as the deputy chief of operations for the ODF Protection Division. Graham said these partnerships are essential for maintaining a high level of preparedness. "These agreements help bolster Oregon's complete and coordinated fire protection system and create a cache of reciprocal resources for all of us to call on when needed," Graham said.

Graham noted that the specific timing of wildfire activity in the South makes the partnership particularly effective. "Oregon has a strong relationship with North Carolina. They regularly send resources in our time of need and we support them when we're able," Graham said. "Their wildfire season is earlier in the calendar year than ours, making for an effective partnership of sharing resources."

Before committing to the out-of-state deployment, the ODF conducted a vetting process to ensure Oregon's fire management system remains adequately staffed. Agency officials stated that serving Oregonians remains the primary priority and firefighters are only spared when local wildfire activity is low.

Oregon has previously relied on similar agreements when local and state response capacities were exceeded. During the 2025 fire season, the state received firefighters and equipment from approximately 17 states, provinces and territories.

The deployment is scheduled for a two-week rotation. This period is intended to allow Oregon firefighters to enhance their existing skills and maintain long-standing professional relationships with their counterparts in North Carolina.