About the Initiative
The OSFM’s Response Ready Oregon initiative was created to boost capacity and modernize wildfire response within the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System (OFMAS). Response Ready Oregon's goal is to attack fires while they are small and keep them away from communities.
As part of the Response Ready Oregon, the OSFM hired seven regional mobilization coordinators (RMCs). They are the local contact for fire chiefs for local response needs. For an interactive map with contact information, visit the OSFM field staffing map.
RMCs collaborate with Fire Defense Board chiefs and fire chiefs to develop, administer, and maintain strategies and plans to improve the OFMAS.
How Response Ready Oregon helps local jurisdictions and Fire Defense Boards chiefs:
- Modernized systems and technology that support the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System (OFMAS)
- Assist the Oregon fire service by creating and enhancing local and regional mutual aid plans
- Assist Fire Defense Board chiefs during initial fire attack, fire assessment, and requests for conflagration
- Fire season readiness reviews
- Assist with determining fire service gaps and needs
- Liaison with the emergency management community, ODF, and other state, tribal, and federal wildland fire partners
- Offer statewide training, safety, and planning to support the OFMAS
Pre-Positioning
Part of the Response Ready Oregon initiative is the ability for the OSFM to pre-position resources ahead of expected increased wildfire conditions, such as high winds, lightning, or hot weather.
During 2023, the OSFM pre-positioned resources five times.
Immediate Response
Immediate Response is another tool the OSFM created to mobilize OFMAS resources to an active incident.
In 2023, the OSFM mobilized firefighters and apparatus to 16 incidents to bolster initial response capacity.
