Fire Forces Evacuation of Mosier as Governor Declares a Conflagration

Oregon's conflagration may be invoked only by the Governor and allows the State Fire Marshal to dispatch structural firefighters and equipment.

Governor Ted Kulongoski today. Salem-News.com photo by Bonnie King

(MOSIER, Ore.) - The entire city of Mosier, Oregon is under evacuation as the Microwave fire approaches the outskirts of the city.

Governor Theodore Kulongoski has declared the fire a conflagration which clears the way for the state fire marshal to mobilize firefighters and equipment to assist local resources battling the fire.

The Oregon State Police are sending resources to assist with evacuation efforts of the estimated 450 residents.

The request to invoke the Oregon Conflagration Act was made by Wasco County Fire Defense Board Chief Bob Palmer.

The Office of State Marshal's Green Incident Management Team and structural task forces from Multnomah and Clackamas Counties and a strike team from Clatsop County are en-route.

According to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, the Microwave fires started at the base of a microwave tower at 7:00 a.m. August 28th. Dry fuel conditions along with an unstable air pattern cause the fire to move rapidly with extreme fire behavior. The fire has burned more than 650 acres of grass and brush and is threatening more than 50 structures in the city.

Oregon's conflagration may be invoked only by the Governor and allows the State Fire Marshal to dispatch structural firefighters and equipment. More information on Conflagration and Emergency Mobilization is available at OSFM website: oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/Oregon_Mob_Plan.shtml. Additional resources on surviving wildfires may be accessed at: • Wildfire…Evacuation Readiness egov.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/docs/Comm_Ed/WUI/wildfire_evac.doc