It takes more than a village to fight wildfires
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, August 4th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
EASTERN OREGON – Fire camps are springing up throughout the region, serving as small cities for those called in to fight the numerous wildfires throughout the region. Volunteers of all ages from all walks of life stand up to serve in whatever capacity is needed.
Phil Foster, the public information officer for three of the fires (Hagen, Paradise, and Horse Ridge) said it’s true that without wildfire fighters the blazes couldn’t be stopped. However he said the need for help goes deeper than that.
“Behind every firefighter there is a host of support personnel that give them what they need to be effective,” he said. “We have so many different groups that are responsible for supplying the firefighters with anything they need.”
Foster also explained that while the wildland firefighters handle the blazes themselves, protecting structures falls to local first responders who are directed to respond by the Oregon Fire Marshal’s Office.
The personnel on the front lines are backed up by everyone from teens to senior citizens doing what they can to help them win the battle. There’s also a need for more people to be involved.
In 2025, the American Red Cross opened or supported 26 shelters in the Northwest during the entire wildfire season. As of July 29 of this year, they had already worked to open 32 shelters with more than three months remaining in the season. That means the demand for shelter volunteers increases and is hardest to fill in rural areas.
The goal is to have a shelter operational within two hours after the call is issued. That means setting up cots, getting food service up and running, and putting up signs to guide the evacuees to the shelter. Many of those people arrive on one of the worst days of their lives, so volunteers must be ready to offer compassion as well as practical help.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities with the Red Cross, visit redcross.org/volunteer.
Editor’s note: To salute the heroes fighting fires from the front lines to the back lines, Elkhorn Media Group’s Facebook pages (EMG, My Columbia Basin, My Wallowa County, and My Grant/Harney County) are publishing a salute to them all. In the comments section, please thank them and feel free to name specific people who are helping save lives, property, and heritage sites in whatever role they are playing.
