OLYMPIA, WA — Swift water rescue teams from fire departments across Washington have been deployed to assist with flood response efforts in Whatcom, Skagit, and Snohomish counties, according to the Washington State Patrol and State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Rescue teams from Chelan, Spokane, Thurston, and Yakima counties are working alongside local fire departments and responders from federal, state, and local agencies to search for and rescue residents stranded by rising river levels. The deployments were made in response to requests from multiple fire agencies in the affected areas as flooding continues along several rivers.

Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the use of the State Fire Service Mobilization Plan at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10. The plan allows fire service resources from around the state to be mobilized during large-scale emergencies when local resources are overwhelmed. Mobilization resources are expected to remain in place through the weekend.

Officials said the current response marks the 405th activation of the mobilization plan since it was established in 1994. The All-Risk Mobilization Program is managed by the Fire Prevention Division of the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office, which operates under the Washington State Patrol.

State officials credited the coordinated response with expanding rescue capabilities during the ongoing flood event and emphasized the importance of statewide cooperation during emergencies.