Five CalOES strike teams arrived in Oregon to provide additional capacity as the state deals with a continued forecast of triple-digit temperatures, extreme fire danger, and forecasted lightning. The Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) made the request Monday through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management.
Twenty-five engines and 100 people were deployed to Oregon from Alameda, San Mateo, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego counties in California. The strike teams will be pre-positioned in the Willamette Valley.
“With several fires burning on the west slope of the Cascades and the fire danger increasing by the hour, our agency has decided to take the proactive step to bring in additional capacity to support the Oregon structural fire service,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “We are thankful for the strong and storied partnership we have with CalOES. We work extremely well together and offer each other support when our communities are impacted by wildfire and other disasters.”
“I’ve been in close contact with our neighbors in Hawaii and Oregon as they deal with these devastating wildfires, and they know that California has their back – we’re doing everything we can to help,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said.
The OSFM currently has 11 task forces mobilized to two fires in Lane County, the Lookout Fire, and the Bedrock Fire.
Over the next week, Oregonians and visitors should remain vigilant as the threat of wildfire is extremely high. The OSFM is urging everyone to be wildfire aware and practice wildfire prevention to avoid sparking additional wildfires.
ABOUT EMAC
EMAC is a national interstate mutual aid agreement that enables states to share resources during disasters. EMAC acts as a complement to the federal disaster response system, providing timely and cost-effective relief to states requesting help from assisting member states that understand the needs of jurisdictions struggling to preserve life, the economy, and the environment.