Santa Monica Fire Deputy Chief Tom Clemo has been tirelessly working in Spokane as wildfires rage through eastern Washington, leaving a path of destruction. Over the weekend, three fires ignited in the region, coinciding with a severe fire weather warning that also affected Los Angeles County during its own brush fires.
The Response Effort
As the fires rapidly spread, fueled by dry vegetation from an unseasonably warm winter, more than 700 structures were lost, and around 67,000 residents had to evacuate. Clemo leads California Interagency Management Team 7, which is a specialized group trained for wildfire responses across the nation. They quickly mobilized on Saturday, sending all 123 members up north to join the battle.
Comprising firefighting experts from Southern California and the Central Coast—including departments from Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and Ventura—Clemo’s team is supported by additional personnel and equipment from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. They dispatched around 150 fire personnel and 20 fire engines, while local agencies also contributed their resources.
The recent Los Angeles County fires have inspired better preparedness in Washington. Clemo noted that following the National Weather Service’s critical warnings, many firefighting assets were placed strategically ahead of time to address the emergency effectively.
Lessons in Evacuations
One positive outcome from this effort has been the efficient evacuation process handled by local law enforcement. Clemo highlighted the impressive coordination that enabled the sheriff’s office to evacuate roughly 60,000 residents within two hours, without incident. This swiftness contributed to the lack of reported fatalities so far, a stark contrast to previous fire emergencies, where faulty evacuations led to tragic losses.
Clemo emphasized the seriousness embraced by both the community and fire personnel regarding evacuation protocols, pointing out that learning from past mistakes has proven invaluable in this situation.
Although cooler, calmer weather on Monday offered some relief, temperatures are expected to rise again this week. Currently, around 1,000 firefighters are on the ground, with that number likely to grow as out-of-state crews join the fight against these destructive wildfires.
