Samaritan's Purse is preparing to respond to the ongoing wildfires in eastern Washington by sending relief trucks and equipment. Volunteer teams will be deployed once the fires are contained.
Fast-spreading wildfires are scorching neighborhoods and communities in and around Spokane, Washington, where tens of thousands of residents have been evacuated and over 700 homes destroyed. The Autumn Lane, Old Trails, and Fairview wildfires continue to consume large swaths of land in the eastern region of the state.
The blazes are only minimally contained.
Assessment crews from Samaritan’s Purse are working alongside emergency management and local government officials to identify the extent of the damage and coordinate a response to these fires. Four Disaster Response Vehicles—box trucks with relief supplies and equipment—are on their way to the affected area now.
As containment of the blazes increases, we will also send Disaster Relief Unit #2, a tractor-trailer from out West Coast Ministry Center in Fullerton, California, to further support our response. Our base of operations will be at host church Life Center Spokane at 1202 North Government Way.
Volunteers will start Thursday, Aug. 13, or whenever local authorities deem it safe to enter the community.
Our volunteer teams will serve in the aftermath of the fires by helping devastated families recover precious keepsakes and belongings from the ashes, while also sharing the hope of the Gospel during such difficult times. Chaplains from the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team will accompany our volunteers, encouraging hurting homeowners with God’s love.
Please lift up the people of eastern Washington in prayer as the blazes threaten to claim more homes and businesses. Pray that God would strengthen the brave firefighters and other emergency responders working to contain these wildfires. Continue to visit samaritanspurse.org for updates on our response.
