The fight against wildfires spreading throughout multiple states is seeing the reinforcement of partnerships and resources across regions. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is notably contributing to these efforts, sending over 55 agency firefighters, leadership personnel, and multiple strike teams of engines to assist in out-of-state assignments as wildfires begin to ramp up across the country. This collaboration underscores the interconnectivity between states and their mutual aid during these frequent crises.
According to DNR's State Forester and Deputy Supervisor George Geissler, wildland fire response is a tight-knit interagency operation where resources and support are shared to combat fires effectively. In a statement detailed by the Department of Natural Resources, Geissler highlighted the significance of this reciprocity, "We know that the states we’re working in right now will likely have personnel and equipment of their own right here in Washington state during our peak months of July and August." It is crucial to rapidly send help and to maintain strong interagency relationships year-round.
Teams have been deployed across Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The National Interagency Fire Center reports that there are 28 large uncontained fires burning nationwide, with the majority in the southern states. The figures for wildfires this year are alarming, with more than 14,800 wildfires having burned upwards of 700,000 acres in the United States—numbers that surpass the 10-year averages.
