Sunday, August 29, 2010

HUBBARD FIRE FINAL PRESS RELEASE

Hubbard Fire
Dayton, Washington

Sunday 29 August 2010
8:30 AM



Fire Behavior and Fire Status
Continuing favorable weather and minimal fire spread are allowing crews to complete containment and mop-up today. It is expected that the firefighting resources that have been assisting under the state Mobilization Act will be released by late afternoon.

Traffic Impact
Tucannon Road reopened Saturday evening at 6:00, after having been closed because of hazards created by large, unstable trees and the likelihood of unsecured power lines in the area. Traffic control and the coordination of the Patit Road detour route were handled by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from state troopers and the Washington State Department of Transportation. Additional traffic restrictions are not expected, though motorists on Tucannon Road should drive cautiously and anticipate firefighting personnel and equipment for the remainder of the day.

Resource Assignments
Private and public fire suppression resources from Columbia County, the region, and throughout Washington are being released throughout the day. They will be either returned to protect their home communities or, in some cases, potentially sent to other fires where their services would be needed.

At the peak of the incident, approximately 175 personnel were assigned. The incident management team’s first priority is always the safety of the public and the responders, followed by effectiveness in the mission. But close on the heels of those objectives is the need to be cost-effective. In support of that effort, the team seeks to utilize only the number of resources that are essential to accomplish the mission, taking into account the best estimate of the fire’s behavior and the impacts on community. This strategy leads the management team to coordinate a demobilization process that minimizes the impact on, ultimately, the citizens and businesses whose tax dollars support responses to major incidents.

The Hubbard Fire has used brush engines, dozers, hand crews, and tree fallers. These resources come from private organizations, local agencies, and from agencies statewide through the state mobilization process. The Incident Management Team consists of public safety employees from diverse disciplines and agencies. Examples include fire departments, law enforcement, forestry, and city public works agencies from Washington and Oregon. The system that provides both suppression crews and management personnel ensures that the best qualified are assigned to major incidents. Whether associated with public agencies or private contractors, qualification standards ensure that responders can work safely and effectively together.

Community Support
Incident Management Team members unanimously agree that local businesses and community members have consistently been exceptionally generous and very accommodating of the team’s needs. Team members always want to avoid unnecessary disruptions to the community, and are grateful for the extended business hours, acquisition of extra supplies, flexibility in contractural arrangements, and consistent willingness to work in an overall team effort to support the firefighters. IMT Logistics Section Chief Steve Guptill (Assistant Chief, Monroe [Washington] Fire Department) asked that the Dayton community be thanked for, “a complete open door and willingness to lend a hand. They’ve been awesome to work with throughout this entire assignment.” Chief Guptill’s comments reflect the gratitude of the entire team.


# # #


Public Information Officer Steve Turcott
(509)993-3701
Steve.Turcott@wsp.wa.gov

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Hubbard Fire Update

Hubbard Fire
Dayton, Washington

Saturday August 28, 2010
10:30 AM



Fire Behavior
Favorable weather changes have contributed to good progress in containing the fire and extinguishing hotspots. Crews are continuing their mop-up work within the fire perimeter to ensure that all lingering fire activity is located and addressed. With the predicted lower temperature and increased humidity today (Saturday), local and mobilization teams and private fire crews hope to make substantial gains toward completion of this incident.



Resource Assignments
Private and public fire suppression resources from Columbia County, the region, and western Washington have had success in their work to control and extinguish this fire. The incident management team has begun the initial planning for demobilization of the 175 personnel assigned to the incident. If weather conditions and fire behavior both continue to be favorable, the team intends to begin to release resources this weekend. While the importance of retaining firefighting crews to successfully and safely address the needs of the incident is obvious, the management team has additional priorities that it considers, as well. We want to make these resources available for other large incidents in the state, as well as release them from mobilization as soon as possible, so their services will be available at home.

The Hubbard Fire has used brush engines, dozers, hand crews, and tree fallers. These resources come from private organizations, local agencies, and from agencies statewide through the state mobilization process. The Incident Management Team consists of public safety employees from diverse disciplines and agencies. Examples include fire departments, law enforcement, and city public works agencies.



Traffic Impact
Large, unstable trees along Tucanon Road at the east front of the fire, and the likelihood of unsecured power lines in the same area, have resulted in the need to close the road. Tucanon Road is closed to through traffic between Turner Road and Hartsock Road. The closure is being staffed by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office with assistance provided by state troopers. Those who have documentation that they own property, or reside, in the area, and who are willing to accept the risk presented by the hazards, will be allowed access.

Access to the Upper Tucanon Recreation Area is available via Patit Road. The incident management team is being assisted by Washington State Department of Transportation, who is placing message signs to notify motorists of the closure.

# # #

The media’s assistance in sharing this detour and road closure information would be appreciated, and is an essential element of our effort to inform the public. We appreciate what you can do for us with this!


Public Information Officer Steve Turcott
(509)993-3701
Steve.Turcott@wsp.wa.gov

Thursday, August 19, 2010

RED FLAG WARNING

National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for the lower Columbian basin and eastern southern portion of the Columbian basin effective today 12 p.m. until 8 p.m. This affects portions of Asotin, Garfield, Columbia, Walla Walla, Franklin, Benton, Kittitas, Yakima, and Klickitat Counties. The combination of breezy winds and low relative humidities will pose a threat of rapid fire spread.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PENDLETON HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING.*

AFFECTED AREA: IN OREGON...FIRE ZONE 631 COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON. IN WASHINGTON...FIRE ZONE 631 LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON...FIRE ZONE 675 EASTERN WASHINGTON SOUTHERN COLUMBIA BASIN.

* TIMING: WINDS WILL INCREASE LATER THIS MORNING THEN BECOME BREEZY BY MID AFTERNOON. RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL LOWER TO AROUND 12 TO 20 PERCENT ALSO DURING THE MID AFTERNOON AND WILL REMAIN VERY LOW INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS.* WIND: SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED OVER MOST OF THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN.* HUMIDITY: RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL RANGE FROM 12 TO 20 PERCENT.*

IMPACTS: THE COMBINATION OF BREEZY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL POSE A THREAT OF RAPID FIRE SPREAD.


A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW OR WILL SHORTLY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH.

FOR ADDITIONALWEATHER INFORMATION...VISIT OUR WEB SITE ATWWW.WEATHER.GOV/PENDLETON.

Monday, August 2, 2010

WSP Offices closed on August 6th, 2010

Washington State Patrol
Media Release
Chief John R. Batiste

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

***For Immediate Release***

Date: August 2, 2010
Contact: Sergeant Freddy Williams
Phone: (360) 596-4014
E-mail: freddy.williams@wsp.wa.gov

WSP OFFICES TO CLOSE FOR TEMPORARY LAYOFF
-Emergency Response Capabilities Unaffected-

(Olympia)—Washington State Patrol offices around the state will close on August 6, 2010, as part of legislatively-mandated temporary layoff days due to severe budget shortfalls.

Even though offices are closed, troopers will still be patrolling highways and 9-1-1 operators will be answering emergency calls.

These office closures will not affect public safety. If you call 9-1-1 a trooper will respond to your emergency.