The Oregon State Fire Marshal is mobilizing three more structural strike teams to southern California from the Oregon fire service. The teams will join 12 strike teams that were sent Wednesday morning.
The strike teams are from Clackamas, Clatsop, Central Oregon, Lane, Lincoln, Linn/Polk, two from Marion, Multnomah, Rogue Valley, Washington, and Yamhill counties.
The most recent strike teams added are from Benton/Columbia, Douglas, and Polk counties. In total, the Oregon State Fire Marshal has sent 15 strike teams, 300 firefighters, and 75 engines to the Los Angeles area.
“Our hearts are with those impacted by these wildfires in southern California and we are doing everything we can to help,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “We are in constant contact with our partners in California to assess the resources they need to respond to this historic event.”
Those looking for information about the fires should follow the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, CAL Fire, or Los Angeles County.
This request came the Oregon Department of Emergency Management and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. The compact provides help during governor-declared emergencies or disasters by allowing states to send personnel, equipment, and supplies to support response and recovery efforts in other states. The strike teams will be reimbursed directly by California.
“Oregon and California have a strong partnership supporting each other. We both understand that fire does not recognize map lines, and we are ready to help each other whenever there is a need,” Ruiz-Temple said. “During our historic 2024 wildfire season, California sent us help and in their time of need, we are working as fast as possible to lend them support during this emergency.”
Meanwhile, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) filled an order to send six strike teams (30 type 6 wildland engines) and other overhead positions to California. ODF firefighters will be briefed on the situation and then assigned where needed. The two-week rotation in California will allow Oregon firefighters to return the favor to our California partners, who sent resources to support Oregon last summer.
Deputy Director of Fire Operations Kyle Williams said, “The Oregon Department of Forestry’s leadership in the wildland firefighting arena makes our firefighters ready for any scenario and sending that expertise to California to help our fellow firefighters in their time of need is the least we can do to support our partners.”
The 70 firefighters are being sent to California via state-to-state mutual assistance agreements with CalFire. When wildfire activity is low in Oregon, firefighters can be spared to help in places experiencing high fire activity.
“We understand how difficult it can be to need help so desperately. Especially after this past season in Oregon, where we saw an amazing outpouring of support from our out-of-state partners during Oregon’s record-breaking fire season,” said Chris Cline, ODF’s Fire Protection Division Chief.
This past summer was a record-breaking year for the state with over 1.9 million acres burned. Quickly, Oregon’s in-state resources were depleted while more fires continued to pop up. In response to our call for help, Oregon was sent resources from about 20 U.S. states and multiple Canadian provinces and territories, including California who sent 21 high-demand positions.
“These agreements help bolster the complete and coordinated fire protection system across the country and create a cache of reciprocal resources for all of us to call on when needed.” Cline explained.
Through these mutual assistance agreements with other states, including Alaska, Hawaii and NW Canadian territories, we can share resources with one another, creating a larger, faster comprehensive fire management system.
ODF’s strike teams’ expenses will be reimbursed by the state of California.
