Simulation tests firefighters’ readiness

To passersby it looked like a major fire emergency was taking place near Buck Run last Wednesday, July 20.

Nearly 70 personnel from the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District (RFPD), Oregon Department of Forestry, Deschutes County Search and Rescue, U.S. Forest Service and Oregon Department of Transportation joined forces in the second annual Multi-Agency Fire Exercise.

Fire trucks and tankers, hoses and yellow-clad workers could be seen in and around the Buck Run neighborhood from Elm Street all the way down Tyee and over to Locust Street.

Five homeowners agreed to allow firefighters to run hoses through their yards and allowed firefighters to be stationed in and around their property.

The practice of bringing all the agencies together for a simulated event is invaluable according to Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD Fire Chief Tay Robertson.

“This is a great opportunity for us to practice a wildfire situation encroaching on a neighborhood so that in the case of a real fire we will be more successful,” he said.

It is important for the local fire department to practice interacting with state and federal agencies since Sisters is surrounded by state and federal forest land, according to Christy Donham who is a fire prevention specialist information officer for the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Donham explained that the secondary effect of practicing on the edge of a town like Sisters is that it increases public awareness about the threat of wildfire and how homeowners can make their property safer by establishing defensible space.

“Firefighters have to make a decision about how protectable a home may be,” she said. “If you don’t have green space around your home and have a big stack of firewood piled right up against the house they may not be laying hose lines on your property.”

Deborah Crawford, a Buck Run resident who had hoses laid through her property and firefighters stationed out behind her house, enjoyed being part of the exercise.

“It’s neat to see how the groups are all working together and for us to get some information about what to do in a real emergency,” she said.

Her husband Jay participated in the drill as a member of the Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD crew.

Search and Rescue personnel set up an incident command center and members went door to door simulating what they would do in a real emergency.

Homeowners were told where they would evacuate in the event of a real fire and had a chance to ask questions about the drill.

“A very important aspect is to test the water system capabilities so there are no surprises when hoses are attached to hydrants around town.

“We need to know how much water we can effectively pump simultaneously,” said Robertson.

Robertson termed the event a success and was already thinking of ways to improve it next year.

“We’ll go back and make the situation even more comprehensive,” he said.