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Portland officials describe wildfire deployments, urge aid for Warm Springs Reservation
Summary
Portland tribal-relations staff and the city fire chief told the Community and Public Safety Committee that Portland Fire and Rescue has deployed crews statewide to help contain record wildfire activity and that tribal communities, including Warm Springs Reservation, need urgent water, shelter and supplies.
Gerald Skelton, tribal government relations manager for the city of Portland and a member of the Klamath Tribes, told the Community and Public Safety Committee that tribal lands are being hit hard by this year’s historic wildfire season and asked residents to help.
"My name is Gerald Skelton. I'm the tribal government relations manager for the city of Portland and a member of the Klamath tribes," Skelton said, and described immediate needs on the Warm Springs Reservation — water, hygiene items, clothes and blankets — and reported that the Northwest Coordination Center lists the Bench Fire as having "burned more than 64,000 acres" and destroyed multiple homes and structures.
Portland Fire and Rescue Chief Lauren Johnson said the bureau has mobilized personnel to support fires across Oregon while keeping the city’s frontline capacity intact. "We currently have 8 members actively assigned to wildfire incidents throughout the state," she said, noting that the department has deployed 37 personnel so far this season and has launched a REMS capability and mixed-county task forces to help rural agencies.
The presentations emphasized mutual aid and interagency coordination: Chief Johnson said deployments are managed through state protocols when emergency declarations are invoked, and Skelton described donation sites and a water conservation order for Warm Springs. Council members thanked speakers and suggested continued briefings ahead of next fire season.
Committee members asked about practical ways Portlanders can help and about ongoing operational strain; speakers pointed to existing donation centers (Skelton noted one at Bison Coffee House) and underscored that Portland is prioritizing in-city protections while contributing to statewide response. The committee did not take formal action on the briefing but recessed to consider legislative items.
