Oregon Sends Equipment, Personnel To Help Fight California Fires

PORTLAND, OR – Dozens of Oregonians are in California assisting crews battling the "Camp Fire" wildfire, which has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people, burned more than 90,000 acres, and destroyed more than 6,700 structures.

It is one of three major wildfires currently burning in the state.

Oregon is sending 15 "strike teams" in efforts being coordinated by the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office.

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They are responding to a request made by California through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which allows states to call on others for help in an emergency.

"Once again, our neighbors in California are in need of support, and even though Oregon had a very long fire season, our Oregon Fire Service has stepped up humbly to help the state of California," State Fire Marshal Jim Walker said.

The strikes teams are coming from Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Douglas, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Rogue Valley, and Yamhill Counties.

The Multnomah County strike team – which left Portland around 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 9 – is made up of a leader and trainee as well as two engine companies from Portland and Gresham, and one from Port of Portland.

They were expected to arrive in Chico on Saturday. The same is true of the other teams.

The teams will fill in where needed including staffing local fire stations if their firefighters are busy on the front line.

They will work 24-hours on and 24-hours off and could be deployed to California for two weeks.

File photo via Portland Fire.