Transcript Wildfires Response – Ray Eickmeyer

Ray Eickmeyer
LCCH/ EMS
Statistics
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Start Date: July 14
Started as 4 separate fires:
- Stokes Fire
- Gold Hikes Fire
- French Creek Fire
- Cougar Flat Fire
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Acreage: 256,108 acres (400.2 square miles)
- 80,564 acres FS
- 70,215 acres WA State
- 6,157 acres BLM
- 99,082 acres Private Lands
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Damage:
– Homes lost: 237 plus 55 cabins
– Critical Electrical and communications destroyed
– Road Closures
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Fire Personnel: There are nearly 3,000 people helping fight the fire on the ground
and in the air.
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Terrain Conditions: Timber & grass. Steep & Difficult
Statistics
Infrastructure Damage
 341 miles of distribution lines affected 6 substations and 9
distribution feeders (1,005 distribution poles damaged; 517
poles replaced; 142 poles needed replaced)
 59 miles of transmission line affected
 4 main fiber lines burnt down which affected broadband services,
company radios, & phones.
July 17th 2014
• Fire Storm:
– These fires grew rapidly from approx 67,000 acres
to 167,713 acres in less than 12 hours.
– This fire ran into the town of Pateros, Washington
causing a mass level 3 evacuations to Pateros and
Brewster area.
– Roads were closed and a massive cloud of smoke
could be seen from Seattle
Evacuation Levels
• Level 1 evacuation is a “warning”
• Level 2 is “pack your bags and place them at
your door
• Level 3 evacuation is “get in your car and
leave”
Refugees
• This caused refugees to flee their homes and settle in
surrounding areas in Chelan and Omak
• Approx 50 people slept in their cars at the Walmart parking lot
in Chelan
• 48 people slept in the Red Cross at Chelan High School on this
first night of evacuations.
• People asking to plug in their cell phones
• People asking for medications from pharmacy
Statistics
 PUBLIC HEALTH: 16 boil water advisories on water
systems from Brewster to Mazama. Most were restored
within a few days of power restoration. Those with
physical damage had to complete repairs before doing
their water testing. Last one came off notice on 5 Sept.
 RED CROSS:
44,660 Meals and snacks
– 628 Shelter overnight stays
– 1,276 Mental health contacts
– 392 Red Crossers (88% volunteers)
– Shelters: Chelan High School; Omak Cornerstone
Christian; Twisp Grange; Winthrop Barn; Brewster
High School
• Serves over 6,000 people that can swell of
over 25,000 people in the summer months.
Hospital district 2200 square miles.
• 25 bed Critical Access Hospital with 24 hr ED
• 14 Bed Addiction Recovery Unit
July 17th 2014
• LCCH EMS responds to Pateros and helped
with evacuation and patient care.
• LCCH activated ICS
• LCCH activated Region 7 Healthcare Coalition
plan:
– Contacted CWH (county/regional designated)
– Contacted Chelan County EM
– Asked for a JIC
– Attempted to contacted Three River’s Hospital
July 19th-July 20th
• Chelan Man
–Increase of approx 2000
people for Event
–Multiple resources tied up
including:
• Chelan County Sherriff
• EMS
ICS (6 days)
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3.
4.
Developed Operational Plan (IAP)
Monitored fire status
Communication to Chelan Valley Community
Continual census of special needs
population and evacuation plan
5. Monitored Refugee population and needs
6. Monitored communicate with Region 7
Healthcare system (HCC)
Strengths
• Rapid ICS activation
– Organized
– Staff did their assignments before each meeting
• Region 7 Communication plan
• Relationships with local special needs facilities
• Red Cross relationship
• ICS forms were helpful
• Gave accurate information to staff and community
• Daycare for staff
• Type I team appreciative of our resources
• Staff willing to work extra
• Had a current list of all special needs in area (home health)
Weaknesses
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On-site daycare plan for staff family
WATrac use
Staffing plan (prescribed)
Evacuation plan for Addiction Recovery
Patients
• Pharmacy plan for refugees