— With smoke from the 2017 wildfires still fresh in the minds of Oregonians, the
Oregon Department of Forestry is already gearing up for this summer’s wildfires.
The
agency’s Interim Fire Operations Manager Blake Ellis said a lot of preparation
goes on behind the scenes each winter and spring. “We work to ensure
firefighters are equipped and ready to respond quickly and effectively to
wildfires all year, with a special emphasis on being staffed and ready for the drier
months,” said Ellis. ” We essentially double our firefighting forces going into
the summer, when wildfire risk is highest.”
Readiness activities
include:
Contracts and agreements for firefighting
equipment, aircraft and other resources have been signed
A new policy governing use of remotely piloted
aerial vehicles (also known as drones or UAVs) has been adopted. These systems
will support fire protection and natural resource management.
Hiring of seasonal firefighters is underway. New
firefighters will attend training at ODF and interagency fire schools across
the state in June.
Permanent and returning firefighters will take fire
line refresher training over the next two months.
Hundreds of miles of fire hose have been cleaned
and rolled, ready for use statewide.
Last year
ODF had great success testing out infrared technology. Carried on aerial
vehicles, the equipment was able to see through heavy smoke on two Oregon
wildfires – Horse Prairie and Eagle Creek. These systems provide sharp images
and real-time fire mapping for fire managers, boosting safety and tactical
planning. This year ODF is incorporating these technologies into its toolkit.
ODF’s
Aviation Manager Neal Laugle said the increasing use of various types of
aircraft in recent years highlights the importance of keeping up with new technology
to achieve the agency’s mission. “From detection to fire mapping and active
wildfire suppression, aircraft continue to play a critical role in the fight to
save lives, resources and property,” said Laugle.
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| Above: A large air tanker drops water in Grant County as part of a demonstration of its firefighting capabilities. |
contracted aircraft flew 1,477 hours on firefighting missions for ODF, more
than 100 hours above average, he said. For 2018 the agency has contracted the
same number of aircraft as last year.
“We have 27
aircraft based across the state, including helicopters, fixed-wing detection
planes, single-engine air tankers and a large airtanker, all of which we’ve
secured for our exclusive use. We also have call-when needed agreements with a
number of companies for additional firefighting aircraft. Among these agreements
is one for the use of a 747 modified to carry 19,000 gallons of retardant
should the situation warrant.”
to have access to aviation resources from other states and federal agencies
upon request.
“Uncontrolled
fires can be devastating. Our relationships with our partners are invaluable to
support prevention and suppression efforts statewide,” said Ellis.
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