What to Expect: Immediate Response
The intention of Immediate Response is to:
- Prevent or delay the need for a conflagration
- Protect structures and/or lives at imminent risk
During Immediate Response, the Oregon State Fire Marshal does not have jurisdictional or
delegated authority. These resources work within the established local command structure.
Relevant information about Immediate Response (from the mobilization plan)
- Task force makeup may look slightly different than standard (less apparatus may have been
accepted by the Oregon State Fire Marshal)
- Resources may have a defined end time (generally 72 hours is the standard, but that could have
been negotiated during mobilization)
- Personnel will generally not be put on per diem before 72 hours of response
- Fuel purchased between check-in and demobilization will be reimbursed – receipts must be
submitted showing date, time, and location of purchase
- The local authority having jurisdiction is expected to provide maps
Pre-arrival
- Communicate with the agency operations center (503-373-0001) at arrival and departure.
- Ensure you know who your point of contact will be, most likely an Oregon State Fire Marshal
staff member. There may be incident management team members assigned to supervisory
positions.
- Complete a Resource Manifest: one per apparatus.
Arrival on scene
Check in with the Oregon State Fire Marshal point of contact. This person will have the most
knowledge about the current situation, plans for logistics, communications channels, etc.
On-scene
- Ensure you understand incident within an incident protocols per the local authority having
jurisdiction or assigned incident management team.
- Ensure you have communications and sufficient area familiarization or mapping products.
- Ensure you understand your assignment and where you fit in the established command
structure.
- Attend briefings as appropriate.
- Lodging and meal accommodations will be incident-driven.
- Lodging may be in hotels, at a fire
camp, in a fire station, or elsewhere.
- Meals may be provided, or you may be asked to use the
supplies you brought.
- Because an Immediate Response will not have an Oregon State Fire
Marshal incident management team assigned, it is not uncommon for there to be little
infrastructure available.
Frequently asked questions
HOW LONG WILL THIS ASSIGNMENT BE?
Generally, Immediate Response is no longer than 72 hours. The timeframe is often negotiated
before mobilization by the agency operation center with your fire defense board chief.
IF A CONFLAGRATION IS DECLARED, WILL WE BECOME PART OF THAT?
This is negotiated by the agency operations center with your fire defense board chief.
WHO ARE WE WORKING FOR?
Immediate Response resources work for the authority having jurisdiction or for a non-Oregon State
Fire Marshal incident management team. Most often, this is the local fire chief.
ONE OF MY WILDLAND COUNTERPARTS ASKED ME TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT
THAN I WAS PLANNING TO DO; WHAT SHOULD I DO?
The task force leader should consult with the Oregon State Fire Marshal point of contact to ensure
alignment in mission.
WHERE DO WE GET DINNER? WHERE DO WE SLEEP?
This is incident-driven. In some cases, there may be an established camp where you will eat and
sleep. In others, the Oregon State Fire Marshal may find you accommodations elsewhere. You may
be asked to rely on the 72 hours’ worth of food you brought.