Captain Jason Berry
Government and Media Relations
(360) 596-4010 – office
(360) 596-4015 – fax
http://www.wsp.wa.gov
*** For Immediate Release***
Date:
August 12, 2011
Contact:
Deputy State Fire Marshal Ed Borgatti
Phone:
(253) 912-4932
E-mail:
Ed.Borgatti@wsp.wa.gov
Fire Mobilization Authorized for the Highway 17 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 Highway 17 Fire west of Coulee City, in Douglas County. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on August 12, 2011 at 7:15 P.M. at the request of Douglas County Fire District #8.
The fire started at 4:04 P.M. on August 12, 2011; the fire cause is under investigation. There are approximately six residences threatened by the fire with voluntary evacuations at this time.
Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered resources to supplement the resources already fighting the fire. There are 70 personnel on scene with an additional 100 ordered and enroute, including one 20-person hand crew. Twenty Wildland Engines and five Water Tenders have also been ordered.
The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Camp Murray continues to be activated to Phase II, to coordinate state assistance for the Highway 17 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://www.wsp.wa.gov/fire/mobilization.htm.