For the first time since 2019, the OSFM’s Incident Management Teams (IMTs) met in person at their Annual IMT Training Conference in Newport in April. The conference provided teams the opportunity to meet new team members, work within their sections on preseason strategies, receive agency and legislative updates from administrators, hear from experts on the upcoming fire forecast, and more. The conference was also an opportunity to train and plan for the upcoming fire season.
OSFM coordinates three All-Hazards Incident Management Teams comprised of local fire service personnel, tribal, state, county, and local employees. The teams are mobilized at the direction of the state fire marshal to respond to a fire or other emergency that has overwhelmed the control and resources of local emergency responders.
At the conference, the operations and information sections held a joint training exercise focused on improving communications for community members in areas impacted by a wildfire or other calamity. Several mock scenarios were set up to simulate a public meeting, an operations video, and others.