“To my surprise, I got a call about the wildfires in L.A.,” said Scott Sheets, 28, of Findlay, Ohio. “I wasn’t expecting an opportunity so quickly, but I’m glad I did. It was life changing.”

When Sheets completed his American Red Cross disaster relief training on New Year’s Eve, he never imagined his first deployment would come just days later—nearly 2,000 miles from home.

The devastating Southern California fires were so widespread that the Red Cross issued a nationwide call for volunteers. Sheets, who had prior experience as an amateur radio operator supporting emergency communications, was ready to step up.

Unlike the post-storm recovery work he’d done in the past, Sheets arrived to find wildfires still raging, displacing thousands of families and threatening multiple communities.

“It was unlike anything I’d ever seen,” he said. “The fires were ongoing, unpredictable and impacting everyone—no matter their background or circumstances.”

Upon his arrival in LA, Sheets quickly found ways to make a difference by supporting the Disaster Services Technology Team. He helped distribute laptops to the workforce, set up portable networks for internet access and provide general information technology assistance to volunteers supporting the response.

“I got an inside look at what life is like for people going through a crisis,” he reflected on his work at one of the Red Cross shelters. “I saw how incredible the human spirit can be—both from those who needed help and those who wanted to give it.”

Although a family matter back home shortened his deployment to just three days, Sheets says the experience left a lasting impression.

“I don’t feel like I accomplished as much as I wanted to, but it inspired me to do more,” he said. “I one hundred percent will be back. I want to keep going and help however I can.”

Sheets hopes his next deployment will allow him to combine his technical skills as a radio operator with his passion for disaster relief. No matter the task, he’s ready to answer the call.

“It’s an honor to serve with the Red Cross,” he said. “Being there for people during their toughest moments is something I’ll never forget.”