Captain Monica Alexander
Government and Media Relations
(360) 596-4010 – office
(360) 596-4015 – fax
http://www.wsp.wa.gov

*** For Immediate Release***

Date: August 29, 2015
Contact: Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Bill Slosson, Washington State Patrol
Phone: (360) 507-6095
E-mail: William.Slosson@wsp.wa.gov
Twitter: @wafiremarshal

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Fire Mobilization Authorized for the Tucannon Fire

State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Tucannon Fire located 25 miles east of the city of Dayton in Columbia County. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on August 29, 2015 at 3:45 pm at the request of Columbia County Fire District 3.

The fire started at approximately 9:40 am on August, 29, 2015. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The fire has grown to an estimated 400+ acres and is threatening homes, crops, and radio and utility infrastructure. No homes have been lost at this time; Level 3 evacuation orders are in place for the threatened residences.

Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered 1 immediate need task force from Tri-Cities, and are working with the Grizzly Bear Complex to fill resources needed to supplement the resources already fighting the fire.

The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Camp Murray is currently activated to Level III to coordinate state assistance for the Tucannon Fire. When State Fire Marshal's Office field personnel become available they will be on scene to coordinate dispatch of resources; staffing at the EOC is already in place.

Under the State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan, the Fire Protection Bureau coordinates the initial dispatch and continued administrative oversight of resources and personnel for the duration of the incident. The Mobilization Plan is implemented to provide a process to quickly notify, assemble and deploy fire service personnel, equipment and other resources from around the state when fires, disasters or other events exceed the capacity of local jurisdictions. More information about the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan is available at:www.wsp.wa.gov/fire/mobilization.htm.

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The Office of the State Fire Marshal is a Bureau of the Washington State Patrol, providing fire and life safety services to the citizens
of Washington State including inspections of state licensed facilities, plan review of school construction projects, licensing of fire
sprinkler contractors and pyrotechnic operators, training Washington States firefighters, and collecting emergency response data.

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