Wildfire Recovery Resources
If you have been affected by the Spokane-area wildfires, a number of local, state and national organizations are providing assistance with immediate needs and longer-term recovery.
We have gathered resources below to help you find the right organization for your situation. Availability, eligibility and hours may change as recovery progresses. When possible, verify information directly with the organization before traveling to a location.
If you need immediate support
City of Spokane Community Resources
Best for: Finding local recovery resources and organizations.
A centralized resource for people affected by the Spokane-area wildfires, connecting residents with assistance and community services.
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Spokane County Emergency Management
Best for: Official emergency information and county updates.
Official county information website showing emergency response, evacuation, recovery and disaster coordination efforts in affected wildfire areas.
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Washington 211
Best for: Finding assistance based on your specific situation.
Washington 211 is a statewide directory connecting people with local resources for housing, food, health care, financial assistance, property debris and other essential resource needs.
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browse other resources by category
Emergency Info & Current Status
Get the latest information about evacuations, fire activity, road conditions and public safety.
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Shelters & Temporary Housing
Find emergency shelter, temporary housing and housing-navigation assistance.
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Disaster Assistance Resources
Explore community programs that may help with disaster-related expenses and recovery.
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Housing & Rent Assistance
Find helpful resources for temporary housing, rent, utilities and longer-term housing needs.
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Emergency Info & Current Status
Get the latest information about evacuations, fire activity, road conditions, air quality and public safety. During an active emergency, official government sources should be treated as the most current source of information.
Evacuation map
( comparison view )
All evacuations for the Spokane Complex Fire have been removed; use the slider below to see previous evacuation zones.
Important: Information during an active incident can change rapidly. Always follow evacuation orders and instructions issued by emergency officials.
Alerts & Official Updates
Spokane County Emergency Management – Emergency preparedness, evacuation information, public safety information and links to emergency alerts.
Alert Spokane – Sign up to receive emergency notifications and warnings for incidents in Spokane County. Spokane County recommends completing your address information so you can receive notifications relevant to your location.
Spokane County Alert Center – Current county alerts and emergency announcements.
Fire, Smoke & Air Quality
Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency – Current air-quality conditions, smoke forecasts and wildfire smoke information.
Washington Department of Ecology: Wildfire Smoke Information – Current air-quality conditions, smoke forecasts and wildfire smoke information.
Washington Department of Health: Smoke From Fires – Health information about wildfire smoke and ways to reduce exposure. completing your address information so you can receive notifications relevant to your location.
Spokane Regional Health District: Wildfires, Smoke and Air Quality – Local information about wildfire smoke, air quality and health considerations.
Shelters & Temporary Housing
Find emergency shelter, temporary housing and housing-navigation assistance. Shelter locations and available services can change quickly during a disaster. Shelter availability can change quickly. Contact the organization or check its current information before traveling to a shelter.
Emergency Shelter
Red Cross Emergency Shelter Map – The Red Cross may open emergency shelters during disasters and provide meals, charging stations, basic supplies and connections to additional resources.
Temporary Housing & Hotels
Temporary hotel or lodging assistance may be available through disaster-response organizations, insurance policies or government programs depending on the circumstances.
- Check with your insurance company about Additional Living Expenses / Loss of Use coverage.
- Check Washington 211 for currently available housing resources.
- Check the American Red Cross for currently activated disaster assistance.
- Check official disaster-assistance announcements for any government-funded temporary housing programs.
Housing Navigation & Resources
Washington 211 – maintains a statewide database of housing, shelter, utility, food and other community resources. It describes its service as a free, confidential and multilingual connection to local resources.
Jewels Helping Hands – Provides shelter, housing navigation, outreach and other services for people experiencing homelessness in Spokane.
Family Promise of Spokane – Provides holistic hospitality; everything a family experiencing homelessness needs to get back on their feet.
Disaster Assistance Resources
Explore government and community programs that may help with disaster-related expenses and recovery. Availability depends on the disaster declaration, geographic area, type of damage and individual eligibility.
Federal
FEMA – may provide assistance for eligible disaster-related housing and other necessary expenses when federal assistance has been authorized for a specific disaster.
U.S. Small Business Administration – SBA disaster loans may be available to eligible homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations when a qualifying disaster declaration is in effect.
USDA Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool – The tool uses your answers to five questions to identify USDA disaster assistance programs that might meet your business needs.
Washington State
Washington Department of Social and Health Services – DSHS administers programs that may provide assistance following a qualifying disaster or emergency.
Spokane County
Washington Department of Social and Health Services – DSHS administers programs that may provide assistance following a qualifying disaster or emergency.
Housing & Rent Assistance
Emergency shelter is only one part of housing recovery. If you have a place to stay but cannot afford rent, utilities, deposits or other housing costs, these resources may provide a better starting point.
Washington 211
Washington 211 – maintains a statewide database of housing, shelter, utility, food and other community resources. It describes its service as a free, confidential and multilingual connection to local resources.
Resources to Ask About:
- Emergency rental assistance
- Rent arrears assistance
- Utility assistance
- Security deposits
- Move-in assistance
- Temporary housing
- Housing navigation
- Eviction prevention
- Homeless services
- Affordable housing
- Tenant assistance
- Transportation related to housing
- relocation
If You Are Experiencing Homelessness
Jewels Helping Hands – Provides shelter, housing navigation, outreach and other services for people experiencing homelessness in Spokane.
Food & Basic Needs Resources
Find food, diapers, clothing, hygiene supplies and other essentials during recovery.
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Insurance & Financial Assistance
Get information about documenting losses, navigating insurance and finding financial assistance.
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Returning Home & Cleanup
Learn more about how to safely return to your property and begin the cleanup process.
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Property Debris & Rebuilding
Find information about damaged structures, debris, permits and the recovery process.
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Food & Basic Needs Resources
Find food, meals, clothing, hygiene supplies and other essentials during the immediate response and recovery period.
Food Assistance
Second Harvest Inland Northwest – Second Harvest connects people with food resources throughout the Inland Northwest. Its food-resource page can help residents identify nearby food assistance.
Washington 211 – Use 211 to identify current food banks, meal programs, grocery assistance and other basic-needs resources in your area.
Other Basic Needs
Jewels Helping Hands – Provides shelter, housing navigation, outreach and other services for people experiencing homelessness in Spokane.
Partners INW – Partners Inland Northwest provides a safety net for those in need. They provide food assistance, clothing resources, diapers, emergency support, and additional community programs throughout the Inland Northwest.
Project Beauty Share – Provides personal hygiene, cosmetics and beauty products to non-profit organizations who serve women and families overcoming abuse, addiction, homelessness and poverty to help restore hope and dignity in their lives.
Insurance & Financial Assistance
Document your losses, understand your insurance coverage and learn what assistance may be available for expenses that insurance does not cover.
Before Cleaning or Discarding Damaged Property
Document damage before beginning major cleanup whenever it is safe to do so.
Consider keeping:
- Photos and video
- Receipts
- Repair estimates
- Inventory of damaged belongings
- Insurance correspondence
- Temporary lodging receipts
- Food and transportation receipts
- Contractor estimates
- Records of evacuation-related expenses
Washington Department of Health recommends contacting your insurance company because insurers may need to inspect damage before cleanup begins.
Resources
Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner – Provides information for Washington residents dealing with wildfire insurance claims.
The OIC notes that homeowners’ policies generally provide fire coverage and that Loss of Use / Additional Living Expense coverage may help cover additional costs such as hotels, laundry, transportation and other expenses when a home cannot be occupied. Coverage depends on the individual policy.
FEMA – may provide assistance for eligible disaster-related housing and other necessary expenses when federal assistance has been authorized for a specific disaster.
U.S. Small Business Administration – SBA disaster loans may be available to eligible homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations when a qualifying disaster declaration is in effect.
USDA Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool – The tool uses your answers to five questions to identify USDA disaster assistance programs that might meet your business needs.
Returning Home & Cleanup
Returning home after a wildfire can involve hazards that are not immediately visible. Follow official re-entry instructions and obtain professional guidance before beginning major cleanup.
Returning Home
Do not return to an evacuated area until fire officials have reopened it. Washington Department of Health advises residents to assess their property carefully because fire damage and environmental contamination may create hazards.
Fire Debris
Spokane County currently advises property owners to consult with their insurance company or a certified cleanup contractor before beginning fire-debris cleanup. The county’s fire-debris guidance notes that ash and structural debris may contain hazardous materials, including asbestos and heavy metals, and directs property owners to the Building Department regarding demolition/debris-removal permits.
Cleanup Considerations
Potential hazards may include:
- Smoke and ash
- Structural instability
- Fire-retardant residue
- Asbestos
- Lead and other hazardous materials
- Natural gas or propane hazards
- Contaminated soil
- Damaged electrical systems
- Contaminated drinking water
- Private-well contamination
- Septic-system damage
- Mold and moisture damage
Washington DOH provides guidance covering damaged buildings, smoke residue, drinking water, private wells, septic systems and professional cleanup.
Property Debris & Rebuilding
Find official information about damaged structures, debris removal, permits, inspections and rebuilding requirements. Requirements can vary depending on the property’s location and the extent of damage.
Important
Habitat for Humanity-Spokane is not currently representing itself as the provider of wildfire reconstruction services through this resource page. The purpose of this section is to help residents understand where to find official information about the rebuilding process, not to imply that Habitat has determined its role in rebuilding individual wildfire-damaged homes.
Property Damage
Document property damage before beginning major cleanup or demolition whenever it is safe to do so.
Residents should consider:
- Photographing structures and belongings
- Creating a written inventory of damage
- Contacting their insurance company
- Obtaining professional assessments when appropriate
- Keeping receipts and records related to cleanup and temporary housing
Debris & Demolition
Spokane County currently advises property owners to consult with their insurance company or a certified cleanup contractor before beginning fire-debris cleanup. The county’s fire-debris guidance notes that ash and structural debris may contain hazardous materials, including asbestos and heavy metals, and directs property owners to the Building Department regarding demolition/debris-removal permits.
Permits & Rebuilding
Spokane County Building & Planning provides information about permits, construction requirements, planning and development in unincorporated Spokane County.
Contractor Information
Before hiring a contractor:
- Verify that the contractor is properly licensed.
- Ask for proof of insurance.
- Get written estimates and contracts.
- Avoid paying the full amount upfront.
- Be cautious of unsolicited contractors following a disaster.
- Check whether additional permits or inspections are required.
Environmental Requirements
Wildfire recovery may involve environmental considerations related to ash, debris, smoke contamination, fire retardant, hazardous materials, water quality and disposal.
Washington Department of Ecology – Smoke & Fire
Washington Department of Health – Post-Fire Cleanup Guidance