AUGUST 21st UPDATE

                                          National Synopsis: 

The wildland fire community lost three U.S. Forest Service firefighters from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest on Wednesday near Twisp, WA. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of these fallen firefighters.

http://www.twispriverfirememorial.blogspot.com

Wildfires in Washington made significant runs over the last two days as strong winds whipped through the state.  Many residents in Washington, as well as other western states, remain evacuated as firefighters work to contain large fires across the West. Yesterday, eight new large fires were reported in four western states and Arkansas.

·         Over 100 large fires for  over  1..3 million acres currently burning.  29,500+ personnel  assigned to large fires.

·         The National Multi Agency Coordinating group (NMAC)  is mobilizing 200 military firefighters for crews.

·         Five wildland fire suppression crews from Ontario, Canada and one Convair 580 airtanker group from both Saskatchewan and Alberta are supporting fire suppression efforts in the Northern Rockies.

      There are two mobilizations ongoing from Massachusetts to wildfire  response.

                -Oregon Crew Assignment (ongoing)                                         

                -(4) Single Resources to Idaho. (NEW)

NEW Mass DCR Resources Mobilized:

Tom Muise,  District 14 (Hopkinton)  Fire Warden
  Assignment: Communications Unit Leader  COML2
Incident:         Teepee Springs Fire,  Idaho

Northeast Fire Compact Incident Management Team IMT2
(3) MA DCR Fire staff on team
Patty Correia,        District 8   Fire Warden:    Situation Unit Leader
Trevor Augustino, District 11 Fire Warden:    Public Information Officer
Dave Celino,         Chief Fire Warden:  Liaison Officer  
Incident:          Last Inch Fire, Idaho
Location:          12 Miles East of Clarkia, ID
Size:          460
% contained:    15

The NORTHEAST FOREST FIRE COMPACT Incident Management Team (IMT2), Incident Commander Rich Schenk (CT), has been requested by the State of Idaho for assistance to manage one of the 17 large fires ongoing throughout central and northern Idaho.  

There are currently over 390,000 acres actively burning in the state with some fires not staffed due to lack of resources.  

The Compact Team is sending a roster of 17 made up of staff from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and New Brunswick, Canada.   The team will manage all aspects of the fire, including suppression operations, logistics, information sharing, planning, and finance.   

Massachusetts is a founding member of the Northeast Forest Fire Protection Commission, known as the Northeast Compact, which was founded in 1949 as a result of large devastating fires that ravaged many New England communities during that time period. It is the oldest such International Fire Compact in the country. The team will be on assignment for the standard 14 days, exclusive of travel.