A Washington-based crisis response team is gearing up to keep first responders connected as wildfire risks and disasters ramp up.
BUCKLEY, Wash. — A Washington-based team that supports first responders on the frontlines is preparing for what could be another demanding wildfire season— and whatever other disasters may come.
“In a time of emergency, every second matters,” said Chandler Martello, manager of Verizon’s Frontline Crisis Response Team.
Martello leads one of dozens of teams across the country that remain on call 24/7, ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. A former volunteer firefighter in Pierce County, he says he understands firsthand how critical communication is during emergencies.
“I understand the demands and the needs for communication in a time of emergency,” Martello said. “So it’s super important for me that I’m there when I’m called upon.”
Based in Buckley, Martello’s team can respond anywhere in Washington, pulling from multiple equipment locations strategically placed across the state to speed up response times.
“This is just one of many different locations we have response equipment in around the state of Washington,” he said. “So we’re able to rapidly respond and grab that equipment that is near that emergency.”
The team provides specialized equipment — at no cost — to help restore communication in disaster zones. That includes mobile trailers designed for tight spaces and rough terrain, capable of quickly reestablishing service where it’s been knocked out.
“Which allows us to set up a bubble of coverage of LTE,” Martello said. “We also can set up Wi-Fi for the data needs for the different public agencies.”
That connectivity doesn’t just support emergency operations—it also helps first responders stay in touch with their families during long deployments.
“Those camps are set up for months on end,” Martello said. “And it is so important for these firefighters to communicate back at home.”
Over the past year, Martello’s team has responded to major floods, a powerful bomb cyclone, and multiple wildfires across the state.
Verizon says it supported 700 agencies in 2025. So far in 2026, there have already been more than 300 requests for assistance across 41 states. With a dry winter raising concerns about an active wildfire season, teams like Martello’s are preparing for what could be another busy year.
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