Captain Jason Berry
Government and Media Relations
(360) 596-4010 – office
(360) 596-4015 – fax
http://www.wsp.wa.gov

*** For Immediate Release***

Date: July 30, 2010
Contact: Dan Johnson
Phone: (360) 596-3913
E-mail: Dan.Johnson@wsp.wa.gov

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Fire Mobilization Authorized for the Nahahum Canyon Fire

State fire assistance has been mobilized to support local firefighters working to contain the Nahahum Canyon Fire near Cashmere, in Chelan County.  Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on July 30, 2010 at 5:15 p.m. at the request of Chelan County Fire District # 6.

The fire started at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday July 29th, the cause of the fire is unknown. The fire has grown to an estimated 500 acres. There are approximately 50 residences threatened by the fire with advisory evacuations put into place.

Mobilization specialists from the Office of the State Fire Marshal have ordered one strike teams of wildland engines (5 engines) to supplement the resources already fighting the fire from the Department of Natural Resources and National Park Service.

The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Camp Murray has been activated to Phase II, to coordinate state assistance for the Nahahum Canyon Fire. Personnel from the Office of the State Fire Marshal will be on scene to coordinate dispatch of resources, and other personnel will staff the State EOC.

Under the mobilization plan, the Fire Protection Bureau will be coordinating the initial dispatch of firefighters, engines, water tenders, and helicopters. The State Fire Services Mobilization Plan is implemented to provide personnel, equipment and other resources from around the state when wildfires exceed the firefighting capacity of local jurisdictions. More information about the Washington State Fire Services Mobilization Plan is available at: http://wsp.wa.gov/fire/mobeplan/emobplan.htm

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