September 14, 2022
Grays Harbor County – State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to assist evacuation efforts at the Montesano Health and Rehabilitation Center Fire, in the city of Montesano. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on September 14, 2022, at 8:00 p.m. at the request of Chief Brett Vance, Montesano Police and Fire Departments.
The Montesano Health and Rehabilitation Center Fire started on September 14, 2022 and fire resources were dispatched at 5:30 p.m. Eighty residents required evacuation and are in need of emergency transport to other facilities. The fire cause is currently under investigation.
The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray remains activated to Level 2 to help coordinate state assistance for the Montesano Heath and Rehabilitation Center Fire. Mobilization specialists from the State Fire Marshal’s Office, Fire Protection Bureau 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/.
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