Five Oregon strike teams sent to S. California wildfires
(Update: Five Oregon task forces sent to S. Calif. fires)
California fire officials sent an additional request for five strike teams from Oregon to assist with fires burning near Chino in Southerrn California, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office said Saturday..
In response, the OSFM Agency Operations Center activated strike team crews from Linn/Benton counties, Umatilla/Union counties, Clackamas County, and Klamath/Douglas counties who are now on their way.
The OSFM said it “is extremely grateful to Oregon’s fire chiefs and their agencies for again stepping up to the plate to help our neighbors to the south as they continue to struggle with an unprecedented amount of fires on their landscape.”
Meanwhile, all 10 strike teams the office sent south to assist with the wildfires in Northern California are actively engaged on a 24-hour work cycle protecting homes and other structures, the agency said Friday.
Five strike teams from Lane County (2), Linn/Benton counties, Clatsop/Columbia counties, and Yamhill County have been assigned to the Central LNU Complex covering Sonoma, Lake and Napa counties.
Five strike teams from Washington County, Multnomah County, Marion County, Jackson/Josephine counties, and Klamath/Deschutes counties are assigned to the Southern LNU complex covering Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties.
Oregon fire agency reps: OSFM State Fire Marshal Jim Walker (Central LNU Complex) and OSFM Red Team Incident Commander Ian Yocum (Southern LNU Complex) report that Oregon resources are preforming well and morale is high.
California is continuing to reach out to states to bring in additional resources. In addition to Oregon, resources have come from Washington, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, and Arizona.
California Fire Chief Kim Zagaris had high complements for the Oregon firefighters.
“The ability of Oregon to mobilize and deploy their strike teams so quickly and efficiently has allowed our firefighters to get much-needed rest,” Zagaris said. “I’m impressed by the high caliber of the Oregon teams on the front lines, doing tremendous structural protection work to protect the people and property of California. Everyone affected is extremely grateful for the help from Oregon.”
California fire officials continue to expect dry, windy conditions throughout the weekend, which will continue to challenge firefighters and residents.
California made the request for assistance through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact a national state-to-state mutual aid system. The EMAC request is sent directly to Oregon Emergency Management which then contacts and coordinates with the appropriate Oregon agency to fulfill the requests; in this case the OSFM.
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