Manson Volunteer Firefighters Association expands mission of service and support

MANSON — The Manson Volunteer Firefighters Association has long been a cornerstone of community service in the Chelan Valley, combining emergency response with outreach and charitable efforts that extend well beyond the fireline.

Doug Pinski, who became president of the Association in 2024, said the organization’s guiding mission is “Strength in Community, Support in Action.” Pinski, a member of the Association for the past two and a half years, also serves as an EMT with Lake Chelan Health Emergency Management Services and works as a seasonal firefighter.

“The Manson Volunteer Firefighters Association is deeply committed to protecting lives, serving with integrity, and uplifting our community, not only through emergency response, but through meaningful outreach,” Pinski said.

“Our growing team of volunteer firefighters is trained in EMS, wildland and structural fire protection, water rescue, and technical operations,” he said. “Each member responds with courage, skill, and professionalism to safeguard the people and property of the Manson area.”

Formally incorporated as a Washington nonprofit in 2013, the Association is made up of volunteer firefighters who also serve as part of Chelan County Fire District 5. While fire protection is central to its work, the Association is funded separately through donations and community fundraising, supporting programs that assist local families, schools and youth organizations.

Among its longest-running efforts is “Season of Hope,” launched in 2007 to provide grocery gift certificates to families in need during the holiday season. The program, which began by serving 10 families with $100 each, expanded significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, distributing more than $20,000 to 65 families.

The Association also provides disaster relief, offering up to $500 in immediate aid to families displaced by structure fires and assisting in larger responses such as the Carlton Complex Fires, the Oso landslide and the Chelan Complex Fires.

Support for youth remains a priority. In addition to backing local school programs and youth sports, the Association took over the charter for Scouts BSA Chelan Valley Troop 34 in 2021.

Funding for these programs comes from donors, community fundraisers and events such as the annual Fourth of July Boot Drive, which helps support the local fireworks show. The group also raises funds through apparel sales, reflective address signs, and the Amazon Smile program.

New this year under Pinski’s leadership is “Walk for Air,” scheduled for Oct. 11. Firefighters will walk 2.8 miles in full gear — more than 100 pounds including face masks and air tanks — from Fire Station 51 to Station 5 in downtown Manson. The event is designed both as a fundraiser and a public demonstration of the physical and emotional weight carried by firefighters in service to the community.

“Whether on scene or behind the scenes, every effort reflects our unwavering commitment to the well-being of our town and its people,” Pinski said.

The Manson Volunteer Firefighters Association is governed by a board that includes community members and firefighters. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donations to the Association are tax-deductible. Its headquarters is located at 250 Manson Blvd. in Manson.

Norm Manly contributed to this report.

Quinn Propst: 509-731-3590 or quinn@ward.media.