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Oregon Sends Fire Crews To Alaska

Oregon Department of Forestry

Oregon firefighters are heading to Alaska to assist with wildfire suppression. Reports at last count were fifty eight small fires in the state.

The two states are partners in the Northwest Compact, which allows for fast and efficient transfer of resources across state lines. Last year, crews from Alaska helped with both the Taylor and Klondike fires here in Oregon.

Bobbi Doan, public affairs officer for Oregon Department of Forestry, says they choose staff to send that were free and had experience with initial attack.

“We are very fortunate that the timing right now, with favorable conditions, available resources on the home-front, and keeping the bases covered, allows for us to send some folks up there to help out,” says Doan.

Doan says the crews sent are helping with the suppression of small fires before they get too large and giving relief to the firefighters in Alaska.

She also adds these transfers of personnel offer unique training opportunities they can take back to their home states.

Amy Brenneman is the 2019 Snowden Intern. She began working in the KLCC News Room June 24, 2019. She recently graduated from University of Oregon with a major in journalism and a minor in anthropology. She loves radio so much, she even made her undergraduate thesis an audio story about paranormal tourism in the United States.
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