Firefighters across the Inland Northwest are trying to get ready for the summer of 2016 after two back to back record-breaking fire seasons.
They said it is time to make important preparations, especially when it comes to their volunteer force.
Fire districts across the Spokane area are putting the call out, hoping to get volunteers screened and trained in time for what could be a third severe fire season.
"We want them to be able to go out and function, working with us, side-by-side, on the fire," said Fire District 8 Chief Greg Godfrey.
Godfrey said volunteers are a critical resource during the summer, but only if they have already had the proper training. He said it is a time commitment that's often hard for volunteers to actually commit to.
"We capture them for a minimum of two weeks straight, where we take them for 8 hour days. And then we capture them for about the next six months. We give them a task book, and there are certain things they have to get signed off in that task book," he said.
During the Okanogan Complex, countless volunteers showed up to help battle miles of fire line. But many were turned away, because they did not have the credentials to fight on the front lines. It is something local districts, the Forest Service, and DNR are all hoping to avoid for the 2016 season.
Godfrey said the severity of the last two fire seasons has helped advertise the need for volunteers everywhere. Officials said the rain and snow we have had lately has certainly helped temper the fire forecast. But, if the rest of our winter stays warmer and drier, we could be in for another dangerous summer.