By Lara Cooper

Direct Relief is responding to devastating fires burning in Washington this week and is dispatching medical aid to support displaced people and frontline health responders.

Sixteen fires are burning across the state, including three near Spokane, where more than 67,000 people have been evacuated. No fatalities have been reported, but the fires near Spokane have burned hundreds of structures, with other fires threatening communities across the state. Air quality across the state has been severely affected, with many communities recording unhealthy levels of particulate matter.

Direct Relief staff have been in Washington this week conducting on-the-ground assessments with Fire Incident Command, Search and Rescue, healthcare providers, higher education, shelter operations, and community organizations to identify immediate and emerging response needs.

Field medic packs for first responders, personal care products for displaced people, and personal protective equipment for residents returning to burn zones were shipped to fire-impacted communities in Washington this week.

One recipient of that support is the Community Health Association of Spokane, or CHAS Health, which has been providing healthcare in local evacuation centers.

CHAS will be receiving field medic packs, which contain first aid essentials for triage care and are often used in street medicine and shelter settings during disasters. CHAS will also receive 250 emergency hygiene kits with personal care products for displaced people, and 200 kits of personal protective equipment for residents returning to their homes and beginning cleanup in burn areas. The kits include goggles, respirators, coveralls, shoe covers, and gloves to protect people from debris and particulates left behind in fire zones.

Earlier this week, Direct Relief shipped medical aid for Family Health Centers, which has a clinic site in Tonasket, Washington. The area has been impacted by the Sinlahekin Fire, which has burned more than 117,000 acres since early last week and is only nine percent contained. That fire has prompted evacuations this week. Direct Relief also shipped 2,200 N95 respirator masks to the health center, as well as requested water purification supplies.

Since July 20, Direct Relief has provided more than $165,000 in medical aid for ongoing health needs across the state, and Direct Relief will continue to respond to medical needs.