ARLINGTON, Wash. — Volunteer pilots are using Arlington Municipal Airport as a staging ground to airlift supplies to families affected by wildfires in the Colville Tribal area.
The National Tribal Emergency Management Council activated the U.S. Volunteer Joint Service Command last week to help communities affected by the fires. Brig. Gen. Steve Brown, the task force commander, said more than 100 families have been devastated by the fires.
Brown said the nonprofit organization includes veterans and retirees who continue serving their communities after leaving the military. Its work includes military funeral services, hospice programs and disaster response. The group’s mission includes bringing supplies and food to people affected by the fires.
Brown said the group has trained for disasters with the National Tribal Emergency Management Council. This year, that training included working with aviation, which Brown said prepared the group for the flights it is conducting now.
The group is working with the Disaster Airlift Response Team, or DART, to send private pilots across the state with donated supplies. Brown described DART as a volunteer organization that assists during emergencies and said the task force is in communication with the group every day.
Smoke from the wildfires has complicated the flights. Brown said pilots are flying supplies to Wenatchee or as close to the affected area as conditions allow.
“Windows of opportunity are sometimes short, so we have to take advantage of them,” Brown said.
The task force had received about 120 pillows by Sunday. Brown said blankets were expected in another load, along with additional supplies being coordinated with corporations.
Brown said organizers have been contacting corporations and communities for donations and putting out collection boxes. He mentioned Home Depot as one company that may be helping the effort.
The operation is expected to grow as more donations arrive. Brown said Arlington Municipal Airport is making additional hangar space available and more flights are expected.
How to help
Brown said the group is accepting donations from the public but is only accepting new items, not used items.
People interested in helping should contact organizers first so they can be directed to the appropriate collection point. Brown said donations could go through the Arlington airport hangar or other collection points, including locations being developed in Snohomish.
People interested in donating can contact Zsofia Pasztor at 425-210-5541 for information about current needs and where to take donations.