SALEM, Ore. – With a stretch of triple-digit temperatures, gusty winds, and extreme fire danger in the forecast, the Oregon State Fire Marshal has made the decision to pre-position two structural task forces in Lane County starting on Saturday afternoon, August 12. 

With several fires burning near communities on the west slope of the central Cascades, the unstable forecast for the area, and Red Flag Warnings in place, the OSFM is strategically positioning these firefighters and equipment in the Willamette Valley. The two task forces from Clatsop and Tillamook counties will be in place for 72 hours, their time may be extended up to two weeks if needed. 

These firefighters and equipment will add capacity at the local level and will be centrally located. The OSFM can quickly move firefighters to other parts of the state if they are needed.   

“We are very concerned with the weather forecast over the coming week, and are being strategic with our resources.,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “We are taking a proactive step by pre-positioning these task forces to be ready for any fire that may spark. We also continue to evaluate our resource levels to ensure we are ready to respond to any fire across the state.”

Pre-positioning resources is one of the tools the OSFM has as part of its Response Ready Oregon initiative. These resources boost initial fire attack and allow a quick response to emerging fires in Oregon. These firefighters and equipment are not assigned to a specific fire but are ready to respond if one breaks out.   

With Oregon in the heart of wildfire season, the OSFM encourages all Oregonians to be aware of the dry conditions and take necessary precautions to avoid sparking a human-caused fire. The OSFM asks all Oregonians to be vigilant, and if they spot a fire, report it immediately.  

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