Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has activated the Emergency Conflagration Act in response to the erupting Rail Ridge and Shoe Fly wildfires, ramping up the firefighting fleet in the affected counties. The Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office is spearheading the operation with the reinforcement of its Blue Incident Management Team and multiple task forces for both fire zones. Officials confirmed that the Rail Ridge Fire in Grant and Crook counties is currently estimated to cover 107,371 acres and is three percent contained, while the Shoe Fly Fire in Wheeler County spans 24,188 acres with six percent containment.
As the Rail Ridge Fire's rapid expansion has been fueled by lightning and exacerbated by the area's extreme high temperatures and wind, the OSFM Blue Team has joined forces with the experienced California Team 10. This collaborative effort aims to quell the fire that has been fiercely raging since September 4. According to the Oregon State Fire Marshal's public announcement, supporting task forces from Central Oregon and Marion County, previously deployed through Immediate Response, are to be joined by three additional contingents by evening.
The statewide escalation of wildfire incidents has led to the 15th and 16th conflagration activations of the summer, putting a severe strain on firefighting resources and personnel. Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple stressed the volatility of the current fire situation, according to the official website indicating "there’s no real relief in the forecast over the weekend and into early next week." She expressed gratitude to the Oregon fire service for its unwavering commitment despite the prolonged period of intensified activity.
Task forces from Clackamas and Multnomah counties were also mobilized to contend with the Shoe Fly Fire, which was initially reported on September 2. The Blue Team's role is to provide structural protection in close coordination with the Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 1, dedicated to this particular blaze. Amidst scorching temperatures anticipated to continue across Oregon, the state fire marshal's office is advising the public to remain vigilant and avoid any activities that might ignite further wildfires.
