Oregon Sends Firefighters to North Carolina

ODF deploys 21 firefighters and an agency rep under mutual aid agreements

Mar. 24, 2026 at 7:48pm

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The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has deployed 21 firefighters and an agency representative to North Carolina under state-to-state mutual aid agreements. The crews will be integrated into fire operations in the state to assist with wildfire response.

Why it matters

These mutual aid agreements allow fire management organizations to share resources and create a more comprehensive fire management system, especially when wildfire activity is low in one region and high in another. This partnership between Oregon and North Carolina helps both states bolster their firefighting capabilities.

The details

The firefighting crews arrived in Charlotte, NC last night and traveled to Ashville this morning for an in-brief from North Carolina fire leadership. Both crews will be integrated into fire operations today. The crews are comprised of firefighters from the Douglas Forest Protective Association, Coos Forest Protective Association and a variety of ODF Protection Districts including South Cascade, Western Lane and Southwest Oregon.

  • The firefighters were deployed over the weekend.
  • The crews arrived in Charlotte, NC last night and traveled to Ashville this morning.

The players

Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF)

The state agency responsible for fire management and protection in Oregon.

Ron Graham

Deputy Chief of Operations for ODF's Protection Division.

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What they’re saying

“These agreements help bolster Oregon's complete and coordinated fire protection system and create a cache of reciprocal resources for all of us to call on when needed.”

— Ron Graham, Deputy Chief of Operations, ODF Protection Division

“Oregon has a strong relationship with North Carolina. They regularly send resources in our time of need, and we support them when we're able.”

— Ron Graham, Deputy Chief of Operations, ODF Protection Division

What’s next

The firefighters will continue to assist with fire operations in North Carolina over the next two weeks before returning to Oregon.

The takeaway

Mutual aid agreements between states allow for the efficient sharing of firefighting resources, ensuring comprehensive wildfire response capabilities even when one region is experiencing high levels of activity. This partnership between Oregon and North Carolina demonstrates the value of these collaborative arrangements.