Several fires burn in Umatilla County

Salem, OR - Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act on the evening of July 17, in response to several fires in Umatilla County. The resources necessary for protecting life and property from the fires are beyond local capabilities. Assistance with life, safety, and structural fire protection was requested by the Tri-County (Umatilla, Morrow, Gilliam) Fire Defense Board and the state fire marshal concurred with that request.

“As critical fire conditions continue this week, multiple agencies are working in concert to protect our state,” Governor Kotek said. “I authorized an emergency conflagration to allow additional resources to fight the series of fires in Umatilla County. I am grateful to the Tri-County Fire Defense Board, the Oregon State Fire Marshal, Oregon Department of Forestry, and our federal wildfire protection partners for working around the clock to keep Oregonians safe.”

A link to Executive Order 24-16 can be found here.

Following ORS 476.510-476.610, Governor Kotek determined that a threat to life, safety, and property exists due to the fire, and the threat exceeds the firefighting capabilities of local firefighting personnel and equipment. The governor’s declaration cleared the way for the state fire marshal to mobilize resources through the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System to support local fire service agencies on scene. This conflagration is declared only for the series of fires threatening structures in Umatilla County.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Green Incident Management Team was mobilized and is entering into unified command with the Oregon Department of Forestry Team 3. The incident management team was briefed this morning. The OSFM sent three task forces to Umatilla County overnight Wednesday. The agency used its Immediate Response tool to send a task force and air support earlier in the day Wednesday.

For the latest on evacuations, please follow the Umatilla County Sheriff on Facebook.