July 22, 2024
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 Big Horn 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 22, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. at the request of Fire Chief John Jensen, Klickitat County Fire District 2.
The Big Horn Fire started on July 22, 2024, at approximately 1:07 p.m. This fire is estimated at 1,200 acres and growing. It is burning in grass, brush, sage, and juniper and is threatening infrastructure, agricultural homes, a windfarm and its offices. Level 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 to Level 2, partial activation, to help coordinate state assistance for the Big Horn Fire. Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered three strike teams and air resources. 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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