On a dreary Saturday in Grayland, the community hall parking lot filled with vehicles from across the county, many with a number of commonalities: high-vis stripes, department names, and more than a little color red.
Volunteers from eight departments graduated from the county's fire academy, preparing them to aid their neighbors across Grays Harbor, in a ceremony filled with friends and family.
"Thank you for volunteering," said Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Howard Scartozzi in an address to the assembled class. "The volunteer fire service is hurting for volunteers."
An outsized class, 25 graduates reached the end, graduating Saturday and returning to their sponsoring departments.
"It'll be you that helps your family members, helps your citizens, help your friends," said McCleary Fire Department Assistant Chief Odd Debakker, one of the instructors.