Over 60 firefighting personnel from Oregon Department of Forestry districts
and Coos and Douglas Forest Protective Associations will be returning to Oregon
this holiday weekend from Southern California, where they have been helping
battle the Thomas Fire. That fire is now reported as 60% contained. The
firefighters will be returning in the same 25 fire engines in which they
traveled to California.
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| Above: Firefighters from ODF’s Eastern Oregon Area pause for a group photo after fighting the Thomas Fire in Southern California. |
The ODF and
association firefighters have been engaged on the fire northwest of Los Angeles
for almost two weeks. During that time, the Thomas Fire has grown to more than
272,000 acres, almost equal to the 2003 Cedar Fire in San Diego, which has
stood as the largest wildfire in California in modern times.
association firefighters have been engaged on the fire northwest of Los Angeles
for almost two weeks. During that time, the Thomas Fire has grown to more than
272,000 acres, almost equal to the 2003 Cedar Fire in San Diego, which has
stood as the largest wildfire in California in modern times.
Oregon sent
the largest contingent of fire engines and personnel from out of state to help
California with the massive blaze, which began on Dec. 4. Earlier this week
some 300 other Oregon firefighters deployed to California through the Oregon
Office of the State Fire Marshal were demobilized.
the largest contingent of fire engines and personnel from out of state to help
California with the massive blaze, which began on Dec. 4. Earlier this week
some 300 other Oregon firefighters deployed to California through the Oregon
Office of the State Fire Marshal were demobilized.
Unusually
prolonged Santa Ana winds spread the fire through rugged terrain in Ventura and
Santa Barbara counties. The lack of significant rainfall in the area since
February provided ample dead and dry fuel that carried the fire deep into the
Los Padres National Forest as well as nearby communities.
prolonged Santa Ana winds spread the fire through rugged terrain in Ventura and
Santa Barbara counties. The lack of significant rainfall in the area since
February provided ample dead and dry fuel that carried the fire deep into the
Los Padres National Forest as well as nearby communities.
The ODF and
association firefighters dug control lines and put out spot fires during their
assignment. Their
mobilization was part of a mutual-aid agreement that this summer saw California
firefighters travel north to help during an especially intense outbreak of wildfires
in Oregon.
association firefighters dug control lines and put out spot fires during their
assignment. Their
mobilization was part of a mutual-aid agreement that this summer saw California
firefighters travel north to help during an especially intense outbreak of wildfires
in Oregon.
At the peak
of the Thomas Fire, the ODF and association firefighters were part of a virtual
army of more than 8,400 firefighters assigned to the fire. Wind-driven flames
forced the evacuation of thousands of area residents and destroyed more than a
thousand structures, according to Cal Fire’s official information website.
of the Thomas Fire, the ODF and association firefighters were part of a virtual
army of more than 8,400 firefighters assigned to the fire. Wind-driven flames
forced the evacuation of thousands of area residents and destroyed more than a
thousand structures, according to Cal Fire’s official information website.