Deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office responded to 88 calls for service and made four arrests in areas under evacuation notices during the height of the Nakia Creek Fire, the sheriff’s office reports.
Between Oct. 16 and Oct. 21, 31 patrol personnel and two commanders worked additional voluntary hours in the evacuation area, according to a release from the sheriff’s office. That staff logged more than 500 hours working the area.
The sheriff’s office assigned a commander and a sergeant to staff the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) Emergency Operation Center, the release stated. Those officers assisted in emergency planning and evacuation operations. Additional staff was called in as evacuations expanded to assist in notifying and evacuating those in the area.
Volunteers with the sheriff’s office’s search and rescue also assisted as they contacted more than 600 homes in level 1 and 2 evacuation zones, the release stated, in addition to CRESA’s own notifications.
Based on other natural disasters nationwide, the sheriff’s office anticipated the evacuated areas would become targets for burglaries. The sheriff’s office turned it’s attention toward protecting the properties in the evacuation zone.
The sheriff’s office reported 88 calls for service in the evacuation area, including a mix of field contacts and traffic stops as well as response to 911 calls from the public or for firefighter assistance.
During the week, sheriff’s deputies arrested four in the evacuation area, the release stated. One was a district court warrant, one was on probable cause for a previous motor vehicle theft, and two were for residential burglary and theft.
Three residences reported burglaries between Oct. 16 and Oct. 21 and the sheriff’s office received two online reports of theft of items from porches or around residences, the release stated.
“We were humbled by the support shown to CCSO by area residents,” the release stated.
The sheriff’s office also thanked the firefighters, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Oregon Department of Forestry for their efforts.
