Oregon fire teams clear misinformation regarding California mission

SALEM, Ore. — Here’s what really happened when Oregon firefighters headed south to help with California’s wildfires: They drove down Wednesday, got their trucks checked Thursday morning, and got right to work. No drama, no delays, and definitely no emissions test roadblocks, according to a statement clearing up the misinformation from the Oregon State Fire Marshal.

That’s the message Oregon’s fire marshal wants to get out after social media lit up with claims that California was turning away much-needed help over equipment regulations.

“To be clear: This is false,” state fire officials stated in the press release, pushing back against what they called a flood of misinformation.

The real story? The state fire officials said fifteen strike teams from Oregon rolled into Sacramento Wednesday for an overnight pit stop. Come Thursday morning at 6 a.m., they went through what the fire marshal’s office calls a “routine once-over” with CAL Fire — the kind of basic safety check you’d want for any fire truck about to battle a wildfire hundreds of miles from home.

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By Thursday afternoon, every single Oregon truck had made it to Southern California. All passed their safety checks with flying colors, and crews were ready for their first 24-hour shift early Friday morning.

“Firefighter safety is our number one priority,” officials explained, noting that while their equipment is top-notch, it’s not every day these trucks make such a long journey south.

The fire marshal’s office is now asking Oregonians to help stop these rumors in their tracks. They’ve even set up an email address for questions: ask.osfm@osfm.oregon.gov.