The minutes and hours after loss or tragedy can feel like a deluge of unfamiliarity; plans to make, people to call and questions to answer.
In Snohomish, the chaplains of Fire District 4 are at the ready to bridge the gap to better days.
“Our entire purpose is to help other people in times of need, in times of stress, when difficult things happen,” said Dana Uplinger, chaplain coordinator for the fire district.
Five volunteer chaplains — Geoff Andrist, Margie Jacobson, Jeff Judy, Mike Ussery and Uplinger — staff 24-hour, on-call shifts. At a moment’s notice, time spent building bonds with the department’s 66 employees will be interrupted by a fire, accident, rescue, death or a variety of other calls.
With the urgency of a first responder, the chaplain arrives at a scene intent on providing support to the firefighters and community members alike.