Washington State Task Force

06/01/2026

Hurricane readiness starts before a storm is in the forecast. Today, FEMA Senior Official Performing the Duties of Administrator Robert J. Fenton Jr. and Senior Counselor to the DHS Secretary Cameron Hamilton met with NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Michael Brennan to discuss hurricane season readiness and ways communities can stay safe.

FEMA continues to work closely with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Coast Guard, governors, tribal leaders, local officials and emergency managers across hurricane-prone areas. Over the past year, FEMA has trained more than 1 million first responders, emergency managers, local leaders and other students to strengthen preparedness and response capabilities nationwide.

05/04/2026

This last Saturday WA-TF1 hosted a FEMA Canine Live Find Certification Evaluation for 11 Canine teams from the National US&R Response System to include 2 of our very own from WA. What an absolutely perfect day for it! Sun was shining over us all, we had a very talented and experienced cadre team of evaluators and ALL of the Canine teams passed! That is absolutely amazing! All the hard work, hundreds of training hours and dedication certainly was demonstrated and paid off. 4 canine teams were testing for their first time and 7 were recertifying (required every 3 years to maintain deployability). Thank you and congratulations to all the teams who traveled from NV-TF1, VA-TF2, CA-TF2 and CA-TF5. Looking forward to our next opportunity to host this amazing event again. 🐾🇺🇸

03/31/2026

2025 was a momentous year for Washington State Task Force 1 as the team had its first non-federal deployment in Washington state since the Oso landslide in 2014. Check out the infographic below for a snapshot of 2025 deployments, missions, and training.

Thank you to all 210 members and their 26 participating agencies for all they do to assist in critical search and rescue missions at a moment's notice!

Did you know?

The team is ready to deploy within 4-6 hours to any natural or human-caused disaster across the U.S.!

03/02/2026

Sunday was an amazing day in the beautiful PNW!!!! Sun was out, dogs were showing off their talents by making the handlers look good and we got to celebrate one of our very own Search Team Manager’s birthday!!!!
WA-TF1 held a Live Find FSA ( Foundational Skills Assessment) where our K9s demonstrated their skills and abilities regarding obedience, aggression testing, heeling, emergency stops, long wait, directionals, and bark indications on the ruble piles and with bark barrels. It truly is a lot of work but all of the K9s Sunday made it look so easy!!!! Very, very proud of our K9 teams and our future K9s!!!!!❤️🐾💙🇺🇸

12/19/2025

Thank you to Pierce County Emergency Management for being such a supportive sponsoring agency! Believing in what we do, why we do it and believing in each task force member makes each deployment even more special! Being able to respond when our own home state is in need meant the world to us! A big thank you to the many sponsoring agencies for supporting all of the members on such short notice, to all of their co-workers for filling in all those shifts and an even BIGGER thank you to the families that support all of us!!! We can’t do it with out all of you so from all of us, THANK YOU! ❤️🇺🇸💙

12/19/2025

Our members that are deployed to Skagit County as a state asset are keeping busy! Between mission assignments and doing area recon, they are doing an amazing job! This deployment is a heavy water incident due to all the flooding and so safety has been at the forefront of everything they do, for the 2 legged and the 4 legged. We are so very grateful to be assisting the community of Sedro Woolley in Skagit County. The photos are from over the last two days. Stay safe everyone!

12/16/2025

Washington State Task Force 1 is currently on their way to Skagit County, WA to help assist the state in any way they can!!!! A huge THANK YOU to all agencies who are supporting the members who are deploying today as a state asset.

Bothell Fire
Pierce County Sheriff’s Dept
Seattle Fire
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue
Eastside Fire
Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority
West Pierce Fire
Tacoma Fire
Gig Harbor Fire
Bellevue Fire
Kirkland Fire
Renton Fire
Redmond Fire
South King Fire & Rescue
Pierce County Emergency Management
Pierce County Equipment Services

All of these agencies combined, creates our 44 person Type III Task Force that includes two live find canine teams. Safe travels!!! 💙🇺🇸❤️

12/13/2025

Thank you to everyone who stepped up to help in our state’s time of need!!!! You are all appreciated more than words can express! 🇺🇸💙❤️

11/27/2025

From all of our families to all of yours, have a very blessed and safe Thanksgiving!!! 🦃❤️🇺🇸💙

11/10/2025

Amazing work has been completed by USA-01. Safe travels home and get some very much needed rest and family time!!! ❤️🇺🇸💙

USA-01 has been demobilized by U.S. Department of State for the response to . The team will return home to Fairfax County later this evening.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
US Embassy Jamaica