Oregon State Fire Marshal Sends Firefighters To California

PORTLAND, OR — With thousands of acres burning in Southern California, forcing home evacuations, highway closures, and air quality advisories, the Oregon Fire Marshal — through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact — has activated its Agency Operations Center to begin sending help to Californian firefighter teams.

According to the State Fire Marshal's office, at least 10 Oregon strike teams have been activated and sent to assist in fighting the Californian wildfires. Locally, fire personnel and equipment from Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties are on their way. From around the state, teams from Lane, Linn, Marion, Klamath, and Yamhill counties have been activated, as well as a combined team from Polk, Linn, and Benton counties and a team from Rogue Valley.

Other fire agencies from around the state have also been asked to provide assistance.

"Oregon fire agencies have again answered the call and we are honored to assist our neighbors for the second time this year," said Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple in a statement. "California helped us with the fires in southern Oregon this year, we assisted them in October, and I am proud that we can again assist them in their time of need."

From Multnomah County, five engines from Gresham (2) and Portland (3) have been sent south.

Related Wildfire Coverage From California Patches:

Southern California Fires: 177K Evacuated, 405 Freeway Closed

• Six wind-driven fires destroyed more than 180 homes, shut down freeways across Southern California, and left 180,000 without power.

Little Mountain Fire: 3 Hurt, I-215 Reopen

• Evacuations and highway closure requested by county fire department due to the rapidly spreading blaze.

Flaming Rolls Of Paper Spread Fire In Cajon Pass

• BREAKING: Fire officials say there was a "box truck with rolls of paper on fire rolling into vegetation."

Rye Fire Burns 5,000 Acres; 1,300 Evacuated

• A 5,000 acre wildfire broke out in the Santa Clarita area, forcing the 5 Freeway to close for a few hours.

Creek Fire Jumps Freeway Forcing 150,000 To Evacuate

• Los Angeles is in a state of emergency as a fire that began in Kagel Canyon, destroyed 30 homes and forced 120,000 to 150,000 to evacuate.

Fire Sparks Near Pine Valley

• The blaze, which scorched less than two acres, was possibly set by a lost hiker, fire officials say.

Top image: Homes stand along the beach as the sun is visible through thick smoke from a wildfire Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017, in Ventura, Calif. A dramatic new wildfire erupted in Los Angeles early Wednesday as firefighters battled three other destructive blazes across Southern California. — AP Photo/Jae C. Hong