FireLines

Tim Darland, Fire Chief

Needless to say, things have been very busy for the fire departmennt over the last month.  In addition to preparing for the open houses scheduled for Saturday, July 10th, High Prairie first responders also worked two major fires in Lyle (Fire District #4) over the last 2 weeks.  I will briefly discuss both fires and what roles HP fire department had on each fire.  Just a reminder that High Prairie and Lyle fire districts have an automatic aid agreement and both departments get paged simultaneously to any emergency.  

The July 4th Fire in Lyle began with a firework launched from a vehicle.  One individual was charged with the crime. The cost of the fire suppression services was estimated between $75,000 to $100,000.  No structures were lost, which most of us professional firefighters consider extremely lucky!  Timing was absolutely perfect in all aspects of the fire – from calling mutual aid from several neighboring fire districts as the Lyle Fire Chief ran out his door; to first units on-scene with a good size-up of the fire; air resources from the DNR; arrival of mutual aid resources (local, state and federal) attacking the fire; and HP (Command 14 and Engine 1411) arriving just in time to assist Lyle brush truck 410 with the spot fire that ignited the grass field in town above the Lyle Activity Center.   

Engine 1411 personnel (4 on-board) quickly pulled two hose lines, one to work the oncoming fire and the other to provide for structure protection at the Lyle Museum.  As Command 14, I was staged at the intersection of Spokane and 4th St where I had a good view of the spot fire to report to both on-the-ground resources for direction and to Incident Command. Once the fire was knocked down, HP firefighters laid a hose line on the eastern edge of the fire to continue to knock out the flames and remaining heat.  Additional HP resources (Brush 1422, Brush 1412) arrived to begin mopping up the hot spots and ensuring the fire was completely out.    

The second fire, officially named the “Lyle Hill Fire,” started above the Lyle high school. The fire began Monday evening of July 12.  The origin of the fire is under investigation.  The cost of fire suppression services is estimated around $500,000.  Official total acres burned tallied at 135 acres.  Here is a link to the details of the fire: https://data.statesmanjournal.com/fires/incident/7662/lyle-hill/ 

Local resources did a great job immediately responding to the fire, and Incident Command also did a great job in assigning resources to areas of the fire.   Unified Command was set up with local, state and Federal resources.    The Sheriff ordered a Level 1 evacuation notice for residences up Centerville Hwy from about milepost 1.5 to 4.2.  This order remained in effect for several days.  HP personnel were essentially set up for traffic control around the access point to the state land and to provide for and oversee structure protection activities along Centerville Hwy at 146, 201, 207 and 216 and for residents along Henderson Rd.   HP units on-scene were Engine 1411, Water Tenders 1415 and 1424, Brush 1422 and Command 14.  The fire remained active near the top of the ridge overnight, and the call was made to request state mobilization resources as we exhausted the capacity of local resources to continue to fight the fire.  Some were up all night.  

A Type 3 Management Team took command of the fire at 10:00 am Tuesday morning.  Over the next several days, multiple air assets put water on the fire and one fire retardant drop was conducted at the top of the ridge. DNR resources were patrolling the area for any flare-ups over the next week and will continue to spot check the fire for any activity.  

Two major injuries occurred with the fire.  One firefighter succumbed to heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation, for which he was LifeFlighted to Portland.  We term this an incident within an incident.  I am happy to report he is doing well and returned home a few days from the initial start of the fire.  The other injury was to a juvenile bald eagle which sustained burns from the fire. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said they got a call about the eagle from fire crews who found it. They were able to bring a specialist to the area to administer fluids and transport it to the Rowena Wildlife Clinic in Oregon.  The eagle is expected to make a full recovery and be released.  Some firefighters sustained minor injuries from poison oak.  

On Saturday July 10th from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, in-between the two fires, the High Prairie Community Council held a community picnic as a tribute to both HP and Lyle first responders.  In addition, the HP Fire Department provided Open Houses for the community to visit both our fire stations and talk firsthand with the men and women on the fire department.   Full disclosure: my plan was to try and attract new recruits for the fire department.  We are at a critical low for staffing, with a total of 12 personnel.  We need a minimum of 6 first responders assigned to each station to maintain our homeowner’s insurance rating.  All skill levels are welcome.  Great news, we did hand out 3 applications to join and we’re looking forward to getting those back.  (Hint, hint.)  Please consider volunteering and help make a difference!   

There are so many folks to thank for the picnic who worked behind the scenes and on the front line cleaning, decorating, cooking, serving, shopping, signage, brownie baking, donation boot touting, cleaning-up including running to the dump with the trash, as well as providing donations.   Community members donated an unbelievable amount of $1,637 dollars to the fire department during the event.  The donations will go toward personal protective equipment to keep our men and women safe in the line of duty.  The HPCC received $215.00 dollars in donations for food and supplies.  What a great tribute. The firefighters and I are so grateful to our supportive community.   Thank you for all you do for us!!    

Last but not least, I want to personally thank each of our first responders and their families (they are in this, too) for the dedication they give to us.  Truly amazed by you answering the call anytime in the day or night, providing selfless service for the betterment of our neighbors’ lives and property.  

Volunteers make High Prairie a great community!

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