Oregon sends help to wildfire-ravaged Southeast

In response to heavy drought conditions in the Southeast region of the country, the Oregon Department of Forestry announced Thursday that an ODF Incident Management Team will be deployed Monday to the Party Rock Fire in North Carolina.

Since Nov. 5, ODF has deployed 20 of its personnel to Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee to assist with wildfire response.

“During our severe fire seasons of 2013-2015, others outside of Oregon answered our call for help. We couldn’t have done as well alone, and now it’s our time to reciprocate,” said Doug Grafe, ODF’s division chief for fire protection.

Because Oregon is now out of fire season, it has the ability to assist other regions that are still facing wildfires and other emergencies, he said.

The Oregon Department of Forestry has three Incident Management Teams comprised of the agency’s highest-qualified people trained in managing emergencies of all types.

Oregon participates in the national interagency firefighting effort through cooperative agreement with state and federal agencies, as well as through the Northwest Forest Fire Compact. During peak fire activity in 2013, 2014 and 2015, thousands of firefighters from throughout the county and Canada augmented Oregon’s complete and coordinated fire protection system.

“We are proud that our highly trained personnel are able to assist other states and agencies during these emergency conditions,” Grafe said. “In addition to lending their skills where they are needed most right now, our firefighters are able to bring what they learn on the fire line back to Oregon.”