Volunteers Help Kids Heal After Washington Wildfires

While firefighters battle 16 large wildfires across Washington State, another kind of hero is arriving to help families pick up the pieces.

Children's Disaster Services is sending four trained volunteers to Spokane to care for young wildfire survivors while their parents navigate the overwhelming process of recovery. The volunteers will work at a Disaster Assistance Center, creating calm spaces where frightened children can just be kids again.

Each volunteer team brings something special: a Kit of Comfort. These suitcases contain carefully chosen toys and materials that let children play their way through trauma, processing what they've experienced at their own pace.

The need is urgent. More than one million acres have burned across Washington and Oregon this year, forcing entire communities to evacuate. In Okanogan County, families watched flames advance toward their homes, not knowing if they'd have anything to return to.

Firefighting crews worked around the clock to save structures in towns like Tonasket, successfully protecting homes and churches. Daniel Klayton, who coordinates with local congregations in the area, called their efforts "nothing short of heroic."

But saving buildings is only the beginning. Families who fled with whatever they could grab now face months of rebuilding their lives. Parents need time to file insurance claims, find temporary housing, and access emergency resources. That's nearly impossible with scared, confused children in tow.

The Ripple Effect

When children feel safe enough to play again, something remarkable happens. Parents can focus on the practical steps of recovery without the added stress of consoling traumatized kids. Children begin processing their fear through play instead of carrying it as anxiety. And families start believing that normal life might return someday.

The volunteers aren't just babysitters. They're trained in helping children work through disaster trauma, recognizing when a child needs extra support and knowing how to provide it without pressure.

Meanwhile, firefighters continue their work across the Pacific Northwest, battling blazes with zero percent containment on many fires. Communities are holding vigil for both the crews risking their lives and the families starting over.

In disaster's wake, helpers always emerge.