Wednesday, October 5, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
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— This guide is provided to you as a courtesy from your Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District —
Pre-position task forces touring Redmond Air Center.
Unprecedented Lightning Storms
TEST FIREFIGHTERS The 2022 Central Oregon wildfire season started later than in years past. The relatively mild fire season was interrupted by several lightning storms in July and August. The storms generated more than 1,000 lightning strikes and ignited more than 100 fires. Rapid response and coordination between Federal, State and local firefighting agencies kept the fires small with a couple exceptions. On July 31, The Fly Creek Fire was reported near the community of Three Rivers. The fire quickly grew to 280 acres and resulted in the issuance of level three evacuation notices for portions of Perry South and Monty Campgrounds. Federal and State firefighters were supported with air tankers and heavy equipment to contain the fire. Several other fires were reported on the Sisters Ranger District but all were kept small through rapid fire attack.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT WILDFIRES IN OREGON THE DOUBLE CREEK FIRE • 8-30-2022 • 157,320 acres burned CEDAR CREEK FIRE • 8-01-2022 • 113,637 acres burned RUM CREEK FIRE • 8-17-2022 • 21,347 acres burned STURGILL FIRE • 8-22-2022 • 20,192 acres burned NEBO FIRE • 8-25-2022 • 12,600 acres burned CROCKETS KNOB FIRE • 8-22-2022 • 4,331 acres burned GOAT MOUNTAIN FIRE • 8-23-2022 • 536 acres burned
photo by Samuel Pyke
Senate Bill 762 Investments
BENEFIT SISTERS COUNTRY
Oregon’s Legislature passed a comprehensive wildfire bill (SB 762) in the 2021 legislative session that provided funding for risk reduction and enhanced emergency response capacity across the state. Two new positions were funded in Deschutes County including a Fire Risk Reduction Specialist and a Regional Mobilization Coordinator. These two positions have already had a significant impact in Central Oregon. In addition to the new positions, the Office of State Fire Marshal funded a Wildfire Season Staffing Grant. This grant provided local fire departments up to $35,000 in funding to hire seasonal firefighting staff. The additional staffing was designed to put more firefighters on the scene of wildland fires in an effort to keep fires small. The SistersCamp Sherman Fire District received a grant under the program and hired six part-time staff for the summer wildfire season. The additional firefighters were used on several local wildland fires during the extreme lightning events. Two other programs funded under Senate Bill 762 that had a direct impact in Sisters Country this wildfire season include the “Immediate Response” and
“Pre-Positioning” initiatives. The immediate response initiative provides state reimbursement for fire departments outside of Central Oregon to immediately respond to fires across county lines. Central Oregon received firefighters and engines from Marion and Clackamas Counties for the Big Canyon Fire in the Three Rivers Sub-Division. Central Oregon fire departments were also able to provide aid under the Immediate Response Program to the Van Meter Fire, 13 miles southeast of Klamath Falls. The pre-positioning program provides funding to move firefighting task forces around the state based on risk and imminent threats. Central Oregon received two task forces of personnel and equipment during the extreme periods of wildfire risk this summer. The task forces included a mix of five fire engines and water tenders along with a task force leader to provide leadership and supervision for the firefighters. The task forces were based in Redmond for several days but received training and orientation in the Sisters, Camp Sherman, and Black Butte Ranch communities. Oregon’s growing wildfire risk will require continued investments in prevention and emergency response.