State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Mile Marker 28 Fire located in Klickitat County. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on July 26, 2013, at the request of Klickitat County Rural 7.

The fire started on July 24, 2013 the fire cause is unknown. The fire has grown to an estimated 5000 acres. There are approximately 69 residences threatened by the fire with evacuations in place.

Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered five wildland task forces, a mix of 3/6 engines and one type 2 tender  to supplement the resources already fighting the fire.

The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Camp Murray has been activated to Phase II, to coordinate state assistance for the Mile Marker 28 Fire. Personnel from the Office of the State Fire Marshal will be on scene to coordinate dispatch of resources, and other personnel will staff the State EOC.

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 incident. 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: http://wsp.wa.gov/fire/mobeplan/emobplan.htm