120+ Volunteers Battle Washington Wildfires for FEMA

When wildfires erupted across central and eastern Washington in early August, more than 120 volunteers answered the call to help. These Civil Air Patrol members have spent the past four weeks documenting fire damage from the air and ground, giving FEMA the detailed images needed to coordinate disaster relief.

The volunteer response began on August 4, when FEMA Region 10 requested Civil Air Patrol's help. Teams arrived quickly with specialized high-resolution cameras mounted on planes, vehicles, and small drones. Despite poor visibility keeping aircraft grounded at first, ground crews got to work immediately with mobile camera systems.

So far, the combined teams have completed more than 140 missions. Fixed-wing aircraft flew over 70 flights, while ground and drone teams captured tens of thousands of images from areas too dangerous or difficult to access by air. Most missions focused on the Kaiser Canyon area, where infrastructure damage was severe.

This operation marks one of the first real-world uses of Civil Air Patrol's newly purchased mobile camera systems. The cameras, normally mounted on powered aircraft, proved versatile enough to attach to ground vehicles and drones when weather conditions made flying unsafe. Safety dictated which resources deployed each day, with teams adapting constantly to changing conditions.

The Ripple Effect

The mission brought together volunteers from five states: Washington, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada. Many worked behind the scenes handling logistics, communications, and emergency operations planning. No aviation experience was required, just a willingness to serve.

Col. Sid Wiggs, the Washington Wing commander, worked at the State Emergency Operations Center as a liaison officer. "While we are working primarily with FEMA Region 10, working in the SEOC allows us to see the entire team in action," he said, noting the professionalism and teamwork across multiple state agencies.

The Washington Wing was legislatively integrated into the Washington Military Department earlier this year, strengthening the partnership between civilian volunteers and emergency response agencies. The wing opened its facilities in Ephrata to continue supporting both state and federal firefighting efforts.

Civil Air Patrol serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, helping First Air Force respond rapidly to domestic emergencies. These volunteers contribute their time and skills to save lives, prevent property damage, and support communities in crisis.

Anyone interested in joining this community-focused service can connect with local squadrons at gocivilairpatrol.com, no aviation background needed.