Whitman County – State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Long Hollow Fire located in Whitman County, near the city of Colfax. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on September 25, 2024, at 10:00 p.m. at the request of Fire Chief Peter Appel, Whitman County Fire District 13.
The Long Hollow Fire started on September 25, 2024, at approximately 4:00 p.m. This fire is estimated at 1,000 acres and growing. It is burning in grass and brush and is threatening homes, crops, and rangeland. Level 2 and 3 evacuations are in effect at this time. The fire cause is currently under investigation.
The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray is activated to Level 2, partial activation, to help coordinate state assistance for the Long Hollow Fire. Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered two strike teams, a hand crew, and a bulldozer to aid in containment efforts. State Fire Marshal’s Office personnel are both en route to the scene and working remotely to coordinate the dispatch of resources.
Under the State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan, the Fire Protection Bureau coordinates the initial dispatch and continued administrative oversight of resources and personnel for the duration of the mobilization. The Mobilization Plan is implemented to provide a process to quickly notify, assemble and deploy fire service personnel, equipment and other resources from around the state when fires, disasters or other events exceed the capacity of local jurisdictions. More information about the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan is available at http://www.wsp.wa.gov/all-risk-mobilization/.
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