Out-of-State Firefighters Join Forces with Oregon to Battle Wildfires Amid Resource Depletion

As the flames in Oregon continue to surge, the state's firefighting forces now witness an influx of out-of-state reinforcements. Task forces from neighboring Washington have been mobilized to support the battle against the wildfires ravaging through communities and valuable land. Notably, the Oregon State Fire Marshal's proactive move has ushered 29 firefighters, backed by eight engines and two water tenders, from the counties of Snohomish, Thurston, and Grays Harbor to the fore. Their destination: the Falls Fire in Harney County. As reported by the Oregon State Fire Marshal, these task forces assume their roles under a parlous sky, with severe depletion of local resources and a forecast of worsening weather.

According to the Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple, "We are bringing in additional support from the Washington fire service for the Falls Fire, the severe drawdown of Oregon resources, and the anticipated weather conditions.” Such solidarity among states is orchestrated through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a national framework established for inter-state mutual aid during disasters.

Meanwhile, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is not standing idle. Their call for help has been answered by an assembly of more than 58 resources from a tapestry of states—New Mexico, Idaho, Montana, Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, Colorado, and Florida. These numbers are expected to swell with the impending arrival of 13 additional firefighters from Florida. This confluence of aid is thanks to the existence of state-to-state mutual aid agreements and the Northwest Compact, which fosters wildfire suppression support among member regions.

"These mutual aid agreements help to bolster the complete and coordinated fire system in Oregon by giving us the ability to scale up as needed during peak times in the season," says Chris Cline, ODF protection division chief. Appreciating the collective effort, the agency recognizes the added muscle in effectively managing the spread of several fires statewide. Travis Hots, a task force leader in the collaborative fight, noted, “This isn’t my first time to Oregon. It is always an honor to help our neighbors when they are in need. Oregon has come to help us several times in the past.” Such a pool of communal resources assures a tactical advantage when fire seasons peak and resources thread-thin, as detailed by Oregon State Fire Marshal.

This interstate camaraderie has reached an official tenor with Governor Tina Kotek's declaration of a State of Emergency last Friday, giving these two agencies—OSFM and ODF—an administrative green light to secure even more help from external partners.