Red Cross Volunteers Rise to Meet Record Wildfire Season

When flames force families to flee their homes, Red Cross volunteers are the first faces they see at emergency shelters. This wildfire season in Washington, those volunteers are busier than ever.

The Northwest Region has already opened 32 shelters this year, a 23% jump from all of last season. The challenge? Three and a half months of fire season remain, and federal forecasters predict August and September will bring Washington's highest wildfire risk on record.

Every shelter runs entirely on volunteer power. When a government agency requests a shelter, two trained volunteers get the call. They have just two hours to set up cots, prepare food service, and post signs before evacuees arrive.

"Volunteers are the heart, the soul, the hands of everything we do at the Red Cross," says Marissa Kelly, Community Disaster Program Manager. She coordinates volunteer shifts around the clock, finding people willing to work nights or repeat shifts when fires rage across multiple communities.

The system works because volunteers give what they can. Some serve 12-hour shifts for days. Others fill in for a single night. Kelly and her team accept any time volunteers offer, piecing together coverage to keep shelters staffed and families safe.

So far this season, every shelter has met minimum staffing standards. But Kelly admits the challenge grows when multiple fires burn simultaneously. "If we get two or three different events happening at the same time, that's when we start to feel it."

The Ripple Effect

These local volunteers create impact far beyond a single shelter stay. When displaced families arrive frightened and exhausted, seeing a neighbor offering help restores their faith in community. That compassion ripples outward as evacuees remember they weren't alone in their darkest hours.

Rural communities especially need volunteers right now. People living in wildfire-prone areas can train for free and serve in roles matching their skills and schedules. With Western Washington now facing higher fire risk than past years, the need extends beyond traditional wildfire zones.

"When families are forced to leave their homes, it's local volunteers who welcome them with comfort and resources," says Lacie Clark, Chapter Executive Director. The organization is actively recruiting before the peak fire months arrive.

Anyone interested can learn more at redcross.org/volunteer. Training is provided at no cost, and volunteers choose their level of involvement.

As climate patterns shift and fire seasons intensify, one thing remains constant: neighbors helping neighbors through the flames.

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