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State Fire Mobilization Authorized for the Newell Road Fire

July 21, 2023

Klickitat 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 Newell Road Fire located in Klickitat County, near the town of Bickleton.  Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on July 21, 2023, at 7:15 p.m. at the request of Fire Chief John Jensen, Klickitat County Fire District 2.

The Newell Road Fire started on July 21, 2023, at approximately 3:35 p.m.  This fire is estimated at 6,000 acres and growing.  It is burning in grass, brush, and timber understory and is threatening homes, farms, wheat fields, solar and wind farms, landfill, and livestock. Level 1 and 3 evacuations are in effect at this time.  The fire cause is currently under investigation.

The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray remains activated at Level 2 to help coordinate state assistance for the Newell Road Fire.  Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered 5 strike teams and the fire will be managed by a Type 3 Incident Management Team.  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/.

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