In the midst of a global pandemic, two local firefighters have gone above and beyond to help not just their communities, but the country, work toward recovery.
“It’s a chance to give back to someone that you don’t know and that needs you the most,” said Adam Wunsch, a firefighter and paramedic with the Burlington Fire Department. “To be able to offer your help in a time of need is what drives me.”
In the past year, Wunsch and Anacortes firefighter Joel Pratt have had multiple deployments with teams in the federal Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) program. Such teams are made up of highly trained medical professionals who provide medical assistance nationwide, when it is needed most. A division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the DMAT program is operated by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, said Public Affairs Officer Suzanne Sellman.