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 31, 2010
Contact: Deputy State Fire Marshal Ed Borgatti
Phone: (253) 912-4932
E-mail: Ed.Borgatti@wsp.wa.gov

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Fire Mobilization Update for the Rainbow Bridge Fire

State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Rainbow Bridge Fire – NE of Stehekin, in Chelan County.  Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on July 30, 2010 at 1:30 PM at the request of Chelan County Fire District 10.

The fire started at 5:18 PM on July 29, 2010, the fire cause is unknown at this time.  The fire has grown to an estimated 1200 acres and the amount of containment is unknown.  There are approximately 100 residences threatened by the fire with Advisory Level 1 evacuations in place.  
Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau ordered one Strike Team of Wildland Engines and a Type 3 Incident Management Team. 

The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Camp Murray continues to be activated to Phase II, to coordinate state assistance for the Rainbow Bridge Fire.  Personnel from the Office of the State Fire Marshal are on scene providing resource coordination and administrative oversight, with other personnel staffing the State EOC.

Under the State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan, the Fire Protection Bureau coordinates the initial dispatch and continued administrative oversight of resources and personnel for the duration of the incident.  The Mobilization Plan is implemented to provide a process to quickly notify, assemble and deploy fire service personnel, equipment and other resources from around the state when fires, disasters or other events exceed the capacity of local jurisdictions.  More information about the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan is available at:  http://wsp.wa.gov/fire/mobeplan/emobplan.htm

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