RESOLUTION NO. 2007-41

 

DECLARING A LOCAL EMERGENCY DUE TO FIRE ACTIVITY

 

         WHEREAS, the Skamania County Director of Emergency Management has reported to the Board of County Commissioners that beginning September 20, 2007, a significant wildfire event occurred at the location of the Broughton Mill site in Underwood.  The fire quickly consumed one residence on the west end of the Mill site.  Strong winds pushed the fire both east and north.  The fire quickly reached the ridge to the north and enveloped five additional homes in the Gosnell Road area of Underwood.  Immediate evacuations were necessitated by the scope and force of the fire and the potential for loss of life and additional damage to private property.  Additionally, on September 21, 2007, the Stevenson Co-Ply Mill site was the site of an enormous fire.  Fire resources from throughout Skamania County were called to assist.  Resources from the Broughton Fire were re-directed to the Stevenson Co-Ply to assist with suppression efforts; and

 

         WHEREAS, the local resources responsible for fire suppression efforts in Skamania County were in need of outside assistance to effectively and appropriately manage the efforts at both fire locations; and

        

         WHEREAS, a Washington State fire mobilization was requested for both incidents due to the size and complexity of each incident and the number and type of resources needed to effectively manage the suppression efforts, and a Type II incident management team was deployed to manage the overall operations of each incident; and

 

         WHEREAS, under the above referenced conditions there is substantial likelihood of risk to persons, property and the environment and there will be cause for temporary to total road closures on County roads and State Route 14 for periods of time and Rail traffic will also be affected in the area of both incidents; and

 

WHEREAS, the conditions stated above constitute an emergency/disaster for the areas of the County proximate to the Broughton Mill site and the Stevenson Co-Ply Mill site necessitating activation of the Skamania County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and the utilization of emergency powers granted pursuant to RCW 36.40.180, 38.52.070(2), and 38.52.110(1);

 

         NOW THEREFORE, the Board of County Commissioners of Skamania County, Washington, do resolve as follows:

 

         Section 1.  There is hereby declared an emergency, as defined in the Skamania County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (PLAN), due to the continued threat of fire specific to the Broughton Mill site and Stevenson Co-Ply site in Skamania County. 

 

         Section 2.  Pursuant to the emergency declared at Section 1, County departments and offices, as designated pursuant to the PLAN, are authorized to enter into contract and incur obligations necessary to combat such emergency to protect the health and safety of persons, property, and the environment, and provide emergency assistance to the victims of such emergency, consistent with the PLAN.

 

 

         Section 3.  The declaration of a local emergency set forth at Section 1 shall be considered effective as of September 20, 2007, and shall terminate by the issuance of a subsequent rescinding Resolution which shall follow when the Board determines that the extraordinary measures detained herein are no longer required for the protection of the public peace, safety, and welfare.

 

APPROVED this 24th day of September 2007.