AT LEAST 19 Clallam and Jefferson county first responders are battling wildfires or the structure blazes they have spawned in Eastern Washington.
The men and women may stay on the firelines for up to two weeks. Two others have returned from a fire in Olympic National Forest.
The North Olympic Peninsula personnel are crewing at least two Type 1 structural fire engines (pumpers) and two Type 6 wildland engines (brush trucks) in efforts against the Walla Walla Complex Fire, Okanogan Complex Fire, Grizzly Bear Complex Fire, Marble Valley Fire and Stickpin/Kettle Complex Fire, all in Washington state.
A water tender from East Jefferson Fire-Rescue also was sent to the Gold Cabin Complex Fire in Olympic National Forest. It was being mopped up last week. (See related report on Page A8.)
As of Saturday afternoon, these departments had sent these personnel and vehicles to these fires:
■ Port Angeles Fire Department: Lt. Kelly Ziegler, Firefighter/EMT Pete Sekac and Firefighter/Paramedic John Hall with one Type 1 engine to the Okanogan Complex Fire between Twisp and Omak.
■ Clallam County Fire District No. 2: Firefighter/EMT Katie Babcock is with the Port Angeles personnel. Fire District No. 2 also is providing a backup engine to Port Angeles.
■ Clallam County Fire District No. 3: Medical Leader James Brown and Firefighters Len Horst, Ivan Hueter and Austen Delgado, plus a Type 6 engine, to the Stickpin/Kettle Complex Fire in Ferry County.
Also, Fire Line Medic Brian Ouellette to the Marble Valley Fire 10 miles south of Colville.
Also, Medical Unit Leader Bryan Swanberg to the Grizzly Bear Complex Fire in the Blue Mountains.
Also, Firefighters Mike McAneny, Becca Yucha, and Danielle Hebert with a Type 1 engine to the Okanogan Complex Fire.
Some District No. 3 crews were in the hamlet of Conconully in Okanogan County on Saturday, according to District Chief Ben Andrews.
Conditions called for experienced firefighters, he said.
Personnel crewing Type 1 engines also were attempting to reduce fire dangers in residential and business areas, clearing away flammable brush and debris.
However, on-scene commanders told Andrews that crews were being pulled back because flames were engulfing whole blocks of buildings.
“They’re actually pulling firefighters off the line because flames are overcoming them,” Andrews said.
Fire District No. 3 had sent personnel “to build competency in our people,” Andrews said. “That’s why Fire District 3 is really aggressive sending people to these fires.”
■ Port Ludlow Fire and Rescue: Firefighter Dave Walker with Fire District No. 3’s Type 1 engine.
■ East Jefferson Fire-Rescue: Firefighter/EMTs Curtis Sanders and Carl Tesch with a wildland engine to the Walla Walla Complex Fire and to northwestern Oregon.
Also, Firefighter/Paramedic Jeff Woods and Firefighter/EMT Gavin Rogers with a Type 6 engine to the Chelan Complex Fire, reassigned to the Okanogan Complex Fire.
Also, Rogers and Firefighter/Paramedic Steve Steele and a water tender had returned from the Gold and Cabin Creek fires in Olympic National Forest after serving four days and Firefighter/EMT J.B. Fairbanks after one day.
More than 30 uncontained large fires continued burning Saturday in the Northwest with numerous evacuations in effect. National Guard troops were joining the efforts, aided by firefighters from Australia and New Zealand.
More than 3,000 civilians had called and emailed the state Department of Natural Resources by Saturday in response to a request for volunteers.
DNR had opened centers in Colville and Omak to coordinate efforts of trained, qualified firefighters and experienced operators of machines like backhoes and bulldozers to dig firelines.
DNR spokesman Joe Smillie said about 200 equipment operators were expected to receive training Saturday in how to deploy emergency fire shelters and to learn other basic fire-survival measures.
For information on Northwest fires, visit http://tinyurl.com/PDN-northwestfires.
For updates on fires across the United States, visit www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf.
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Reporter James Casey can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jcasey@peninsuladailynews.com
