Oregon is stepping up once again to help battle the destructive wildfires ravaging Southern California. The Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced on Saturday, January 11th that six more strike teams, made up of thirty water tenders and seventy firefighters, will be sent to California to assist in the firefighting efforts.
These teams come from various Oregon counties, including Clackamas, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Morrow, Multnomah, and Umatilla. They will join the fifteen other strike teams that had already arrived earlier in the week. As Southern California braces for continued extreme fire weather, the situation remains highly dangerous.
State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple emphasized the importance of this effort: “We understand the severity of this crisis and are leveraging the strength of the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System to provide our neighbors with crucial support in combating the wildfires and safeguarding lives and property.”
The Oregon firefighters include some of the state’s newest tactical water tenders, which were recently acquired by local fire agencies through the OSFM Engine Program. These new resources will be a vital addition to the efforts to contain the fires.
In total, Oregon has mobilized a significant force to aid California, including twenty-one strike teams, seventy-five fire engines, thirty water tenders, and three hundred seventy firefighters. The deployment is authorized under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a system that allows states to provide mutual assistance during emergencies. California will reimburse Oregon for the costs associated with the deployed crews.
In addition to Oregon’s efforts, the National Interagency Fire Center reported that eight Department of Defense C-130 aircraft have been activated to assist in the firefighting operation. These aircraft are equipped with modular airborne firefighting systems (MAFFS) and will support the ongoing response to the fires. These planes join the many municipal, county, state, and federal agencies already working together to tackle the wildfires around the Los Angeles area.
As of January 12th, three major fires are raging in the Los Angeles area: The Palisades Fire near Malibu and Highway 101, the Eaton Fire near the southern basin of the Angeles National Forest, and the Hurst Fire north of Los Angeles along the I-5 corridor.
Here’s the latest on the fire containment efforts:
- The Palisades Fire is currently 11% contained, with 23,713 acres burned.
- The Eaton Fire is 27% contained, with 14,117 acres burned.
- The Hurst Fire is 89% contained, with 799 acres burned.
The cause of the fires is still under investigation, and there has been no official statement on the cause as of yet.
It is important to note that, while social media may be flooded with information, it’s crucial to rely on official sources for accurate updates. The general public is advised to visit official government websites for complete and up-to-date information.
For those who are trying to contact loved ones affected by the fires or for anyone needing help with wellness checks, the Red Cross can be reached at (800) 675-5799. For the latest updates on the California wildfires, please visit the CAL Fire website at: www.fire.ca.gov.
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