July 7, 2021
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 Wilma Fire located in Whitman County, near Clarkston. The Wilma Fire is currently burning in grass and brush. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on July 7, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at the request of Fire Chief Jay Reisenauer, Whitman County Fire District 14.
The Wilma Fire started on July 7, 2021, at approximately 6:00 a.m. This fire is estimated at 70 acres and growing. It is threatening rangeland, cropland, and Bonneville Power Administration transmission lines. No evacuations are in effect at this time. The fire cause is currently under investigation. Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered air resources only at this time.
The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray will remain partially activated at Level 2 to help coordinate state assistance for the Wilma Fire. 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: https://wsp.wa.gov/all-risk-mobilization/.