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Forest fires in Oregon: volunteers save village from flames

2020-09-18T20:01:57.899Z


In Oregon, more than 1,000 residents have formed a fire brigade. They extinguish the fires themselves with heavy equipment - because there is no outside help.


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"Hillbilly Brigade" - in German hillbilly brigade - is the name of a group of volunteers fighting the major fires in the US state of Oregon.

The unskilled and self-organized troops take fire protection in their area into their own hands. 

Nicole West, member of the Hillbilly Brigade

"We cut aisles and put out individual fires so that it doesn't spread here."

In addition to Nicole West, a total of 1,200 people take part - residents of the area who are actually dairy farmers or woodcutters.

The group is credited with saving the small town of Molalla, which previously had to be evacuated.  

Nicole West, member of the Hillbilly Brigade

"We came here around 2am and gathered equipment, fire fighting trucks and chainsaws. Everything we could find. And then we just did what had to be done."

The "Hillbilly Brigade" has to do without the support of the local fire department.

However, it only consists of 13 people.

There was also no reinforcement from outside - there are simply too many and too large fire areas on the entire west coast.

The emergency services cannot send firefighters everywhere. 

Nicole West, member of the Hillbilly Brigade

"We all stayed here even though the police wanted to evacuate. We stayed and fought the fire. Otherwise it would have gotten completely out of hand."

The forest fires around Molalla have not yet been extinguished.

However, the volunteers are optimistic that the miles of firebreaks will at least slow down future fires.

Maybe the weather will also help - or outside support will come. 

Source: spiegel

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