National Guard scales up firefighting, traffic control and homeowner safety kits

Major General Gent Welsh described the National Guard's statewide response to the wildfire emergency, emphasizing boots-on-the-ground firefighting, aviation support and logistics to free up local resources.

"When you have a tragedy of, I would call, industrial scale proportion, you absolutely need a response of industrial scale proportion," Welsh said, and explained that Guard crews are supporting DNR and other fire agencies with ground crews, helibases in Deer Park and Wenatchee, and traffic-control assistance. Welsh said about 105 National Guard firefighters were assigned to the Little Giant fire and that several helibases have aviators flying bucket missions for extended periods.

Welsh also described a new effort with the Red Cross to scale distribution of safety kits—Tyvek suits and other PPE—delivered to homeowners' doorsteps, and said Guard personnel will help assemble and distribute those kits and assist partners as needed.