By Ginika Igboke
Volunteer pilots are using Arlington Municipal Airport as a critical staging point for an expanding relief effort aimed at helping families affected by wildfires in the Colville Tribal area.
The aviation operation is bringing together volunteer pilots, veterans, emergency-response organizations, businesses and community members in an effort to move essential supplies into areas impacted by the fires.
The National Tribal Emergency Management Council activated the U.S. Volunteer Joint Service Command last week to support communities dealing with the destruction caused by the wildfires. Brig. Gen. Steve Brown, who is serving as the task force commander, said more than 100 families have been devastated by the fires and are in need of assistance.
Brown said the organization is made up largely of veterans and military retirees who have continued their tradition of community service after leaving active duty.
Although many members have military backgrounds, the group’s work extends beyond traditional military missions. Volunteers have participated in military funeral services, hospice programs and disaster-response operations, Brown said.
The current wildfire response is focused on getting food, bedding and other necessities to families who have been affected by the fires.
Volunteer Pilots Become Critical Link to Fire-Affected Communities
As wildfires continue to affect communities in northeastern Washington, getting supplies into impacted areas can be difficult.
Road access may be limited, smoke can reduce visibility and changing fire conditions can make traditional transportation routes challenging.
That’s where volunteer aviation resources are playing an important role.
The task force is working with the Disaster Airlift Response Team, commonly known as DART, to coordinate private pilots willing to transport donated supplies across Washington.
Brown described DART as a volunteer organization that assists communities during emergencies. The two groups remain in regular communication as organizers determine where supplies are needed and when weather and fire conditions allow aircraft to safely reach the region.
The operation is using Arlington Municipal Airport as a central location for organizing supplies and preparing flights.
From there, volunteer pilots can transport donated items toward communities affected by the fires.
Smoke Creates Challenges for Pilots
The wildfire smoke has created an additional obstacle for the relief operation.
Brown said pilots are sometimes unable to fly directly into the areas closest to the fires because of visibility and safety concerns. Instead, flights may be directed to Wenatchee or another location as close to the affected communities as conditions allow.
The situation can change quickly depending on wind, smoke levels and other weather conditions.
“Windows of opportunity are sometimes short, so we have to take advantage of them,” Brown said.
That means organizers must be ready to move supplies quickly when conditions allow aircraft to operate safely.
Pilots and organizers also have to balance the urgency of delivering supplies with the safety of the volunteer crews operating the aircraft.
Donations Continue to Arrive
The relief effort has already begun collecting significant quantities of supplies.
By Sunday, organizers had received approximately 120 pillows, with blankets expected in another shipment. Additional donations are also being coordinated with businesses and corporations that have expressed interest in supporting the response.
Brown said organizers have been reaching out to companies, community groups and individuals to ask for donations.
Collection boxes are being established in different locations, making it easier for members of the public to contribute needed items.
Brown also mentioned Home Depot as one company that may be participating in the relief effort.
As donations increase, organizers expect the operation to expand.
More supplies mean more flights may be needed, and Arlington Municipal Airport is preparing for that possibility.
Arlington Airport Expands Support
Airport officials are making additional hangar space available to support the relief operation.
The extra space will allow organizers to collect, sort and temporarily store donated supplies before they are loaded onto aircraft.
More volunteer flights are expected as additional donations arrive and the needs of families in the affected communities become clearer.
The effort also demonstrates how general aviation can provide valuable support during disasters.
Private pilots who normally use their aircraft for personal or recreational purposes are instead volunteering their time, aircraft and flying experience to help move supplies to people facing an emergency.
For families affected by the fires, those flights can provide access to necessities at a time when regular supply chains may be disrupted.
How the Public Can Help
Organizers are accepting donations from members of the public, but there is an important requirement: only new items are being accepted.
People who want to contribute are encouraged to contact organizers before dropping off supplies. This allows volunteers to direct donations to the appropriate collection site and helps prevent unnecessary items from overwhelming the limited storage space.
Donations may be accepted through the hangar operation at Arlington Municipal Airport, as well as other collection locations being established in the Snohomish County area.
Organizers are continuing to develop additional collection points, including potential locations in Snohomish.
The relief mission is expected to grow as more people learn about the effort and additional businesses and community organizations become involved.
With wildfire conditions continuing to affect communities in the Colville Tribal area, volunteer pilots and emergency-response groups are preparing to keep the airlift operating whenever conditions permit.
For the volunteers involved, the goal is straightforward: collect essential supplies, get them into the air and deliver them as close as safely possible to families who need help.
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