Document text
A second group of National Guard members has been deployed from Salem to help fight fires in Southern Oregon. More than 125 members of the Oregon National Guard headed to Merlin at about 9:30 this morning to fight the Taylor Creek fire burning west of Merlin. The group, known as NG-2, departed from the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem, according to a Guard release. A few days ago, 147 members of the Guard were dispatched to assist with the Garner Complex in Josephine County. The Taylor Creek fire has burned through more than 36,400 acres west of Merlin in the Siskiyou National Forest. This morning, it was burning toward Bear Camp Road, Galice Creek drainage and Chrome Ridge, according to inciweb.nwcg.gov . It was 34 percent contained. The Garner Complex , burning through 8,800 acres east of Cave Junction, is 75 percent contained, Inciweb says. The Oregon Department Public Safety Standards and Training on Friday completed a weeklong training program for nearly 200 citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen who volunteered to help fight fires throughout the state. Another 200 members of the Guard previously had been trained as wildland firefighters in July at Camp Rilea. The training was made possible by federal funds requested by state officials to help prepare members of the National Guard should their help be needed during wildfire season. Often called "red card" training, it includes both classroom and hands-on instruction, the release said. The Oregon Department of Forestry has an agreement with the Oregon Military Department called "Operation Plan Smokey" that stipulates how Guard members are used to assist in fighting wildfires, the Guard release said.