ODF Deploying Six Strike Teams to Fight Los Angeles Area Wildfires

Salem, Oregon- The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) announced the deployment of six strike teams, comprising 30 type 6 wildland engines and additional overhead personnel, to assist with combating wildfires in Los Angeles County. The region’s strong winds and ongoing wildfires have forced thousands of residents to evacuate and created hazardous air quality.

The ODF teams were scheduled to arrive at the incident command post yesterday, where they received briefings before being assigned roles. The two-week deployment reflects ongoing cooperation between Oregon and California under state-to-state mutual assistance agreements. This collaboration follows California’s support for Oregon during its record-breaking wildfire season last summer.

“The Oregon Department of Forestry’s leadership in the wildland firefighting arena makes our firefighters ready for any scenario, and sending that expertise to California to help our fellow firefighters in their time of need is the least we can do to support our partners,” said Kyle Williams, ODF’s Deputy Director of Fire Operations.

The deployment includes 70 firefighters, whose expenses will be reimbursed by the state of California. ODF’s Fire Protection Division Chief Chris Cline emphasized the importance of mutual support between states during wildfire crises.

“We understand how difficult it can be to need help so desperately. Especially after this past season in Oregon, where we saw an amazing outpouring of support from our out-of-state partners during Oregon’s record-breaking fire season,” Cline said.

During Oregon’s 2023 wildfire season, over 1.9 million acres burned, depleting in-state resources and necessitating assistance from 20 U.S. states and multiple Canadian provinces and territories. California contributed 21 high-demand positions to help Oregon manage its fires.

“These agreements help bolster the complete and coordinated fire protection system across the country and create a cache of reciprocal resources for all of us to call on when needed,” Cline explained.

The mutual assistance agreements, which also include Alaska, Hawaii, and Northwest Canadian territories, enable states and provinces to pool resources, ensuring a more comprehensive and responsive fire management system.

ODF remarks the deployment underscores the critical role of interstate collaboration in addressing increasingly severe wildfire seasons across the region.