State Emergency Operations Center Activated in Response to Four Wildfires

Camp Murray, Wash.—The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activated to Phase III this evening in support of multiple responses to an escalating number of wildfires in central and south-central Washington. The State EOC moved to Phase III at 8:30 p.m. Sunday night.

Gov. Chris Gregoire’s Office has been notified of the activation and is receiving updates as the situation continues.

State fire assistance has been mobilized by Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste in response to requests from firefighting operations in the following areas:

• Klickitat County, Highway 141 Fire, authorized Wed., Sept 5.
• Chelan County, #1 Canyon Fire, authorized at 2:45 p.m. today.
• Douglas County, Leahey Fire, authorized at 5:45 p.m. today.
• Douglas and Grant counties, Barker Canyon Fire, authorized at 5:45 p.m. today.
• Lincoln County, Apache Pass Fire, authorized at 6:30 p.m. today.

Chief Batiste’s actions authorized use of the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan, which is being implemented by personnel from the Office of the State Fire Marshal on scene at the various fire locations and at the State EOC. More information about the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan is available at: http://www.wsp.wa.gov/fire/mobilization.htm.

Federal management assistance declarations have been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the wildfires in Klickitat and Chelan counties, and the Barker Canyon fire in Douglas and Grant counties because homes are threatened. This action makes funds available under the Federal Management Assistance Grant program (FMAG), which provides assistance when uncontrolled wildfires could become a major disaster.  

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State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working the following fires:

#1 Canyon Fire is burning near Wenatchee, in Chelan County. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources at 2:45 p.m., September 9, 2012, at the request of Chelan County Fire District #1. The fire started on September 9, 2012, at approximately 2:00 p.m. and is burning in sage and grass. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The fire is an estimated 200 acres and growing rapidly. There are currently 40 homes that are under level 3 evacuations and an additional 100 under level 2 evacuations. Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered six strike teams of to supplement the resources already fighting the fire.

Barker Canyon Fire is burning near Coulee Dam, on the border of Douglas and Grant Counties. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources at 5:45 p.m., September 9, 2012, at the request of Douglas County Fire District #3 and Grant County Fire District #14. The fire started on September 9, 2012, at approximately 5:00 p.m. and is burning in sage and grass. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The fire is an estimated 10,000 acres. Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered three strike teams of Wildland engines to supplement the resources already fighting the fire.

Leahy Junction Fire is burning near Coulee Dam, on the boarders of Douglas and Grant Counties. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources at 5:45 p.m., September 9, 2012, at the request of Douglas County Fire District #3 and Grant County Fire District #14. The fire started on September 9, 2012, at approximately 5:00 p.m. and is burning in sage and grass. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The fire is an estimated 1,700 acres. This fire will be managed in conjunction with Barker Canyon Fire.

Apache Pass Fire is burning near Odessa, in Lincoln County. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources at 6:30 p.m., September 9, 2012, at the request of Lincoln County Fire District #. The fire started on September 9, 2012, at approximately 5:27 p.m. and is burning in stubble, brush and sage. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The fire is an estimated 200 acres. Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered one strike team of Wildland engines 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 fires. 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.

Regarding the use of 911:

The State Enhanced 911 Office in cooperation with local telephone carriers reminds all citizens in the affected area:

• To stay off the telephone unless you have a critical need to make a telephone call. Remember a FAX or a computer also uses a telephone line and its use may affect your ability to get immediate help in a life-threatening emergency. 
• DO NOT call 9-1-1 unless you need an emergency response from police, fire or emergency medical personnel.  The 9-1-1 lines must be kept open for people who have a true emergency.
• If you experience other types of problems not related to these emergency services, call the appropriate telephone number for those services.
• If you pick up your telephone to make a call and do not hear a dial tone, DO NOT HANG UP. Simply wait a few seconds, and you will get dial tone and be able to make your call.