Multiagency Coordination

Scenario Background:

The South Rosewood fire started at 1400 on the afternoon of Monday, August 26. The fire started when a farmer was mowing the grass field and struck a rock sparking the dry grass underneath. Due to a moderate northeast wind with 8-10 mph winds, the fire spread quickly. Crews and engines from the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and Molalla Fire District (MFD) responded initially, supported by additional resources from Canby Fire Department, Silverton Fire Department, Molalla Police Department and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO).

ODF, Molalla Fire and Clackamas County Sheriff entered into a Unified Command late on the 26th and assembled a local Type 3 IMT (you) to take command and develop an Incident Action Plan for August 27. ICP was established at the Molalla Fire Station. Additional IMT members and tactical resources were ordered to staff the August 27 Day Operational Period (see attached list of resources currently assigned to incident).

Traffic on Highway 213 was reduced to one lane during the day on the 27th due to heavy smoke and to allow for firefighter and public safety, and Traffic Control Points are in place on the north and south ends, staffed by CCSO and ODOT personnel.

An Oregon State Police Investigation Team worked on-site during the day, in cooperation with local investigators from ODF and MFD. The Team is working out of Molalla Police Department offices.

There was been a high level of interest from local media, with crews from two local TV stations and reporters from several local newspapers in the area on the 27th. They have been interviewing local residents, and have requested to speak with fire officials.

Current Situation:

It is now 2200 hours on August 27. Wind conditions became more extreme during the day and into the evening, with sustained winds of 25 miles per hour and gusts to 35. The fire has been spreading steadily south, crossing South Rosewood, and pushing close to Comer Creek. Current size is estimated to be 100 acres, and it is expected to double in size by morning. Structure protection crews have had to abandoned efforts along South Rosewood, and have repositioned at residences off of South Comer Creek Rd, and Marquam Circle. There are several spot fires reported south of Comer Creek.

Level 3 evacuations have been completed in the identified area (South Comer Creek and Marquam Circle. The Level 2 area is expected to go to Level 3 before daylight. The trigger for that will be discovery of any spot fires in the Marquam Circle area. CCSO has staff providing patrol and security in evacuated areas and notifying residences in the Level 2 area. A Red Cross shelter was established at Molalla High School, although most evacuees appear to be staying with friends or relatives.

Highway 213 has been closed due to smoke and fire proximity, and to facilitate additional evacuations. Only firefighting resources and evacuees are being allowed to travel in that area.

The Clackamas County Fire Chief has requested a Conflagration Act mobilization, and ordered four structural task forces. The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Blue Team is mobilizing and will be arriving for an inbriefing at 0500 hours. ODF has put their IMT 3 on alert, and is awaiting a morning update on the fire status from the County Fire Chief, ODF District Forester and OSFM IC.

ODF, County and Local City officials have agreed that a Joint Information Center should be established in Molalla to help manage an increasing demand for information from the public, and from local and media.

Regional Situation:

The east wind event is impacting areas west of the Cascades across northwest Oregon and southwest Washington. There are two large fires burning on USFS lands in the Columbia Gorge, and an interagency Type 1 team is in place. A fire southeast of Estacada is over 500 acres in size, and ODF and OSFM are both mobilizing IMTs to form a Unified Command. Washington State has two Type 2 interagency teams mobilized in their southwest region. There a several other fires burning in the region with local Type 3 organizations managing them at this time. There is high potential for mobilization of two or three more Type 1 or 2 teams in the coming days. USFS has a Type 2 interagency team staged in Portland and ready for rapid mobilization.

Due to the level of fire activity, the Northwest Coordination Center in Portland has moved to Planning Level 5. They are hosting conference calls with Incident Commanders each morning at 0730. ODF and OSFM have established a Northwest Oregon Multi-Agency Coordination Group located in Forest Grove to oversee the allocation of available resources to incidents within their geographic area (12 county area from Lane County north). The NWO MAC is assessing incidents within their geographic area and assigning priorities for critical resource allocations. Critical resources include structural task forces, Type 1 and Type 2 crews, and Type 1 and Type 2 helicopters. They have requested each incident submit an initial Incident Prioritization Worksheet by 0800 hours, and then daily thereafter by 2000. They have also requested an ICS 209 from each incident 100 acres or more in size by 1900 daily. 

Resources Currently Assigned:

Molalla Fire District

Brush Engine B386 Type 6 Engine 300gls w/2 personnel

Brush Engine B385 Type 6 Engine300 gls w/2 personnel

Heavy Brush HB361 Type 3 Engine 500gls w/3 personnel

Battalion Chief 1 TFLD

Tender 36 3,000 gallons w/operator

V. Stafford IC

B. Wakefield SOF

L. Carver PIO

S. Spencer LOF

R. Rogers OSC

Ambulance (Fletcher) Medical Unit Leader +2 (ALS)

Canby Fire Department

Brush Engine B276 Type 6 Engine 300gls w/2 personnel

Brush Engine B286 Type 6 Engine300 gls w/2 personnel

Heavy Brush HB281 Type 3 Engine 500gls w/3 personnel

Battalion Chief (Olson) DIVS (Structure Protection Group)

Tender 28 2,000 gallons w/operator

Silverton Fire Department

Brush Engine B213 Type 6 Engine w/2 personnel

Tender 21 2,000 gallons w/operator

Oregon Department of Forestry

Engine ODF-NC602 Type 6 Engine w/2 personnel

Engine ODF-NC402 Type 4 Engine w/2 personnel

Engine E-11 Type 6 Engine w/2 personnel

Engine E-12 Type 6 Engine w/2 personnel

Dozer ODF-CM-2 Type 2 Dozer w/operator & swamper

South Fork Inmate Crew (Vessey) 10 person hand crew

South Fork Inmate Crew (Auble) 10 person hand crew

T. Brostrom IC

S. West SOF

J. Jones DIVS (A)

L. Hopkins OSC

D. Deckerman PIO

T. Timons Dozer Boss

R. Miller PSC

P. Clements LSC

S. Johnson Staging Area Manager

G. Wagenblast Fire Behavior Analyst

J. Bonebrake Fire Investigator

Clackamas County Fire Defense Board

Structure Task Force 01 5 Type 1&2 Engines w/TFLD (16 personnel)

USFS

F. Francis SITL

D. Peterson DIVS (S)

Razorback Hot Shots Type 1 Crew (20)

MHF Hand Crew Type 2 Crew (18)

Private Contractors

Fire Mountain Type 2 Water Tender w/2 personnel

Stickum Reforestation Type 2 Crew (20)

Great Northern Reforestation Type 2 Crew (20)

Hennings Road Construction Type 2 Dozer w/operator

Fields Contracting Type 1 Water Tender w/operator

Terra Aviation Type 2 Helicopter w/service truck (3)

Molalla Police

MPD 20 Patrol Sergeant

MPD 24 Patrol Officer

Clackamas County Sheriff

CSD 121 (SGT Meyers) DIVS (Traffic Control)

CSD 120 (Allen +1) TF Group

CSD 133 (Farmer +1) Evac Group

CSD 140 (Parker +1) Evac Group

CSD 108 (SGT Lawson) DIVS (Evac Group)

CSD 151 (Jessup) Evac Group

ODOT

Flagging Crew

Oregon State Police

Investigation Team (2)