Seven Sweet Home firefighters who have been serving for the past two weeks on strike teams in southern California, fighting wildfires, may be home in time for Christmas.
The Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal, through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, activated its Agency Operations Center Dec. 6 and deployed 15 strike teams with equipment and personnel to assist with the wildfires in California.
All Oregon resources are assigned to assist with the Thomas Fire burning near Ventura. The California Office of Emergency Services reports that the Thomas Fire is at 271,000 acres and is 50 percent contained. It has destroyed 1,024 structures and damaged 250.
Fire districts have sent 269 personnel and 75 apparatus, and the Oregon Department of Forestry has deployed 60 personnel and 25 engines.
From Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District sent Battalion Chief Guy Smith, Battalion Chief Shannon Pettner, Lt. Chad Calderwood, apparatus operator Jeff Meyers and firefighter Eric Galster.
Pettner is serving on a team from Tangent, and Smith is a junior task force leader.
The ODF Sweet Home Unit sent Forest Protection Supervisor Neil Miller and Shane Ruddell, an equipment operator and mechanic. Calderwood also is a forest protection supervisor with the ODF Sweet Home Unit.
The firefighters were expected to return to Oregon Tuesday.
Monday, Cal Fire reported that more than 8,000 firefighters and more than 870 fire engines were engaged in fighting the fire, which is threatening a number of communities.
“California and Oregon have a longstanding relationship with mutual reciprocation when suppression resources are needed,” said Oregon State Forester Peter Daugherty.
“California was there for us during our challenging fire season this year and Oregon is fortunate to have the opportunity to return the favor.”
Severe fire weather is expected to continue, promoting significant fire growth in Santa Barbara County, where a number of communities are under mandatory evacuation orders, according to an ODF press release.
California made the request through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact a national state-to-state mutual aid system.
The five ODF task forces, each made up of five engines, were requested by California fire officials through an interstate resource-sharing system known as the Resource Ordering and Status System (ROSS).