For first time in state history, Washington accepting citizen volunteers to

The Department of Natural Resources asked for volunteers to help battle the wildfires that have raged wild across Washington and Idaho.

Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) put out the call as a flurry of wildfires raged unchecked in the Pacific Northwest, placing a severe strain on state resources.

To expedite the processing service, potential volunteers should contact DNR coordinators at the above phone numbers or email addresses in advance with their desired role, existing fire qualifications, location, and contact information. “We appreciate all offers of qualified and trained support”.

DNR spokesman Joe Smillie says the centers are sorting through the names to see what people have to offer.

“DNR only has a limited amount of dozers and excavators and things like that”, Walker said.

Offers to volunteer will be formally accepted starting at 7 a.m. Friday, and coordinators will review volunteers’ offers for resources and direct them to where they can be most beneficial and without jeopardizing the safety of firefighters and the public, officials said. Help is also arriving to the state from Australia and Canada, the latter of which is also fighting fires near the Washington-Canada border. “With the high danger the firefighters are experiencing it is crucial we maintain our communications and power equipment.”

He said scores of people have come in person, and hundreds more have called or emailed.

“That’s going to be a very big test of our fire lines and without any moisture to help us out”, said Kale Casey, who is helping manage the more than 130,000 acres burning near Chelan. The legislature had just passed a bill which made it easier for citizens to be recruited to help firefighters by limiting the liability in cases where anything went wrong.

As volunteers poured in, the department clarified that it needed qualified applicants.

The state began setting up the training centers as Inslee and other officials have sought to assure tired , frustrated and displaced residents that more help was on the way. Four firefighters have gotten injured and one is critical as well as of Thursday.

Some of the small towns threatened by fire are popular among tourists – sunny and warm escapes for people on the typically wetter west side of the Cascades.