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

*** For Immediate Release***

Date: September 10, 2012
Contact: Deputy State Fire Marshal Melissa Gannie, Washington State Patrol
Phone: (253) 912-4932
E-mail: Melissa.Gannie@wsp.wa.gov
Twitter: @wafiremarshal

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Fire Mobilization Authorized for the Byrd Canyon Fire – Chelan County

State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Byrd Canyon Fire. Located near the city of Chelan, in Chelan County. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources at 23:15 p.m., September 9, 2012, at the request of Chelan County Fire District #9.

The fire started on September 9, 2012, at approximately 10:53 p.m. and is burning in sage, grass, and scattered timber. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The fire is an estimated 5,000 acres and growing rapidly. There are currently 40 homes immediately threatened with a potential additional 100 homes threatened. Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau are working to order the requested resources to supplement the resources already fighting the fire.

The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Camp Murray has been activated to Phase II, to coordinate state assistance for the Byrd Canyon. 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 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.

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The Office of the State Fire Marshal is a Bureau of the Washington State Patrol, providing fire and life safety services to the citizens
of Washington State including inspections of state licensed facilities, plan review of school construction projects, licensing of fire
sprinkler contractors and pyrotechnic operators, training Washington States firefighters, and collecting emergency response data.

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