Governor Kate Brown has declared the Graham Fire, burning approximately 3 miles south of Billy Chinook, a conflagration. The declaration cleared the way for the state fire marshal to mobilize firefighters and equipment to assist local resources battling the fire.

The Office of State Marshal’s Green Incident Management Team and two structural task forces from Clackamas and Washington counties will arrive in the morning and begin working to protect structures.

The Jefferson County Emergency Manager said there was a Level 3 (Leave) evacuation order issued but it was unclear how many people had evacuated.

“This is a reminder that fire season has arrived,” said Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple. “Please be aware of maintaining defensible space and know the fire restrictions in your area.”

Oregon’s conflagration may be invoked only by the Governor and allows the State Fire Marshal to dispatch structural firefighters and equipment. More information on Conflagration and Emergency

Mobilization is available at OSFM website:

 http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/2008_Oregon_Fire_Service_Mobilization_Plan.shtml.

Additional resources on surviving wildfires may be accessed at:

• Wildfire…Evacuation Readiness http://egov.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/docs/Comm_Ed/WUI/wildfire_evac.doc
• After the Wildfire… http://egov.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/docs/Comm_Ed/WUI/After_a_wildfire.doc