The Lincoln County Fire Defense Board has mobilized a specialized wildfire task force to assist in battling the Elk Fire in Klamath County, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
The deployment came at the request of the Oregon State Fire Marshal as part of the state’s coordinated wildfire response under the Emergency Conflagration Act.
The task force left Lincoln County on Wednesday and is expected to arrive at the staging area at 9 p.m. Thursday. It includes personnel and equipment from Central Oregon Coast Fire & Rescue, the Depoe Bay, Seal Rock, Siletz Valley and East Lincoln County fire districts and the Clackamas County Fire District.
The Elk Fire was sparked by dry lightning earlier in the week and has burned thousands of acres in southern Oregon, prompting evacuation notices and responders from state and local fire agencies.
The task force includes engines, command personnel and support staff. The initial deployment period of up to 14 days is based on fire conditions and resource needs.
