Tribe sends crews to help with wildfire suppression efforts in two states

By Nicole Montesano

Smoke Signals staff writer

UPDATED: 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.

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

Bishop provided a follow-up at the Wednesday, July 29, Tribal Council meeting.

“I have been in contact with each one to let them know that we are in support of helping them with whatever they may need,” she said. “As of now, they have not requested anything from us but they are using state and federal resources…Warm Springs says that they may need something come recovery time but we will wait and see on that.”

Langley also provided updated information at the council meeting.

“I spoke with Andrew Puerini (Tribal Fire Management and Protection Program manager) and he said that he reached out to Warm Springs and offered our hand crew,” he said. “They’re up near Detroit (Lake) right now and they would be able to assist Aug. 4, but he hasn’t heard back from Warm Springs yet. In addition to that, we have crews near Vale, with three engines there. We have one engine and a hand crew near the Middle Fork Fire, which is in the Eugene area, and then in Wenatchee and Spokane, Washington, we have one engine there. We have 52 personnel out on the fires currently and we still have our three engines and 11 staff here locally to address needs, should they arise.”

Langley said that the Tribe plans to send a fourth engine to Vale Friday, July 31.

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.”

• Smoke Signals Editor Danielle Harrison contributed to this story.