Tribe sending crews to help with wildfires across the state

By Nicole Montesano

Smoke Signals staff writer

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has been sending out fire engines and crews to help with the massive fires burning across Central and Eastern Oregon, as well as to Washington, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Brandy Bishop and Interim General Manager Bryan Langley told Tribal Council during a Tuesday, July 28, Legislative Action Committee meeting.

Bishop was scheduled to provide a follow-up at the Wednesday, July 29 Tribal Council meeting.

More than 1.1 million acres have burned in Oregon so far this year, Bishop said, affecting several Tribes.

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs issued an emergency declaration, following the Bench Fire that has burned six homes and other structures. Evacuations remain in place, Bishop said, and the Tribe is considering pursuing a presidential disaster declaration.

The Burns Piute Tribe has also issued an emergency declaration, and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation has been affected by the Hagan Fire burning on reservation lands and surrounding communities.

The Oregonian newspaper reported that 76 large fires have burned in Oregon so far this year and 35 of those are still active.

The Tribe’s Emergency Services Department has been sending help, Bishop said, with 10 personnel and two fire engines to help with the statewide wildfire response at Warm Springs and other locations.

“Despite these deployments, CTGR has not experienced local staffing shortages,” she said. “Full emergency management coverage has been maintained through state-reimbursed overtime and part-time staffing, allowing CTGR to continue supporting statewide wildfire response while remaining fully prepared to protect the Grand Ronde community.”

She said she remains in contact “with the Emergency Managers from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Burns Paiute Tribe and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. I have conveyed that the CTGR Tribal Council sends its thoughts and prayers to their communities and that CTGR stands ready to provide assistance if requested through the appropriate resource request process. I also remain in close coordination with the Oregon Department of Emergency Management Tribal liaison.”

In addition to the Emergency Services Department, the Tribe’ wildland fire crews have also been responding to blazes around the state.

Langley said on Tuesday that the Tribe has sent three engines to Vale and plans to send a fourth on Friday, July 31.

“The Middle Fork Fire, which is near the Eugene area, we have one engine and a gang crew there, and Wenatchee, Washington, we have one engine there, too, a total 52 fire crew that are out on these fires,” he said.