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Spokane Wildfire Recovery: Insurance Help, Emergency Protections and Local Resources

Published on: August 4, 2026

Last updated: August 5, 2026

The Spokane-area wildfires remain an active emergency. Fire conditions, evacuation levels, assistance locations and road closures may change quickly. Before traveling or returning home, check the official Spokane County evacuation map and follow instructions from local authorities.

Latest update: The August 5 insurance event has been postponed

Do not travel to Shadle Park High School for the previously announced insurance information event on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Although resources are expected there tentatively 9 am to 7 pm. See below for more info. The event has been postponed at the request of Spokane officials and will not take place as scheduled. A replacement date was not included in the latest announcement.

A Disaster Assistance Center is scheduled to open at Shadle Park High School on Thursday, Aug. 6.

  • Location: Shadle Park High School, 4327 N. Ash St., Spokane
  • Opening: Thursday, Aug. 6, tentatively 9 am to 7 pm
  • OIC assistance: Consumer advocates from the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner will be available through Sunday, Aug. 9.
  • Insurance-company assistance: Representatives from most of the insurance companies providing coverage in the area will be onsite to help policyholders ask questions and begin or continue claims.

Daily hours and services may change as officials coordinate the response. Check the Office of the Insurance Commissioner and Spokane County Emergency Management before traveling.

What help will be available at the Disaster Assistance Center?

The center is intended to give affected residents one place to connect with government agencies, insurers and recovery organizations. OIC consumer advocates can help people understand their policies, prepare for the claims process and determine what questions to ask their insurance companies.

Insurance-company representatives may be able to help with matters such as:

  • Starting a property, renter or auto claim
  • Finding an existing claim and assigned adjuster
  • Understanding temporary-housing and additional living expense coverage
  • Learning what documentation is still needed
  • Getting answers about inspections, estimates and claim payments

Bring your insurance information if you have it, including policy numbers, claim numbers and the names of your insurance companies. However, people who lost documents or don’t know where to begin can still ask the OIC’s consumer advocates for guidance.

What to do when it’s safe to assess damage

Don’t delay an evacuation or enter a restricted area to photograph property. Even after flames have passed, damaged power lines, unstable trees, debris, weakened structures, ruptured gas lines and hot materials may make an area unsafe.

Once authorities allow you to return, take these steps to protect your claim:

  • Start the claim: Contact your insurance company or agent. Ask for your claim number, assigned adjuster and a list of the information they need.
  • Share your location: Tell the insurer where you are staying and how to reach you if you can’t live at home.
  • Document the damage: Take photos or video before cleaning, moving or throwing anything away, when it’s safe to do so.
  • List what was lost: Create an inventory of damaged or destroyed belongings. Add estimated purchase dates, costs, brands, models and any receipts or older photos you can find.
  • Prevent more damage: Make reasonable temporary repairs, such as covering a broken window or damaged roof, and save the receipts.
  • Wait on major repairs: Avoid permanent work until the insurer has inspected the property or approved the repairs.
  • Track extra expenses: Keep receipts for hotels, meals, laundry, transportation and other costs caused by displacement.
  • Check your coverage: Ask about loss-of-use or additional living expense coverage, including any dollar or time limits.
  • Keep a claim record: Note dates, names, conversations and copies of everything you submit.

Additional living expense coverage generally pays the added cost of living elsewhere, not every household expense. For example, it may cover the difference between your usual food costs and the higher cost of meals while staying in a hotel. Ask your insurer what expenses qualify and what documentation it requires.

The OIC’s steps to take after home damage or a loss provide more detailed guidance.

What to know after filing a claim

  • Inspections: Your insurer may inspect the property in person, request photos or use a virtual inspection. Ask what the company needs before beginning cleanup or permanent repairs.
  • Contractors: You may choose your own contractor, even if the insurance company recommends one.
  • Assignments of benefits: Read any assignment of benefits carefully before signing. It may transfer control of the claim to a contractor and limit your ability to negotiate or change contractors. Learn more from the OIC about assignments of benefits and homeowner claims.
  • Smoke and soot damage: Homeowner or renter insurance may cover cleanup, repairs, damaged belongings or temporary living costs, depending on the policy and loss. Review the OIC’s smoke-damage guidance before beginning extensive cleanup.

Insurance help from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner

Washington residents don’t have to handle confusing insurance questions alone. The OIC offers several free consumer resources:

The OIC can explain insurance requirements, help consumers understand an insurer’s response and review complaints. It can’t rewrite a policy, independently determine the value of every loss or guarantee that a disputed claim will be paid.

Federal response and possible recovery assistance

FEMA approved an emergency declaration for Washington on Aug. 4 to support state and local response efforts. An emergency declaration can help agencies cover eligible emergency-response work, but it doesn’t automatically mean that every affected household can apply for direct FEMA payments.

Watch the FEMA declaration page, the Spokane County website and announcements from the Disaster Assistance Center for information about any individual aid programs that become available.

Be cautious about unofficial messages asking for fees, banking information or Social Security numbers. Government disaster programs don’t charge people to apply.

Check current fire and air-quality information

Fire size, containment, evacuation levels and smoke conditions can change throughout the day. Use current sources rather than relying on older reports or social media posts.

Where to find help in the Spokane area

Local resources may move, close or change their hours as evacuations and recovery work continue. Confirm details before traveling.

  • Disaster Assistance Center: Shadle Park High School, 4327 N. Ash St. The center is scheduled to open Thursday, Aug. 6. OIC consumer advocates will be available through Sunday, Aug. 9, along with representatives from most insurance companies serving the area.
  • Emergency updates and evacuations: Visit the Spokane County wildfire resource page and enter your address in the official evacuation map.
  • Spokane-area evacuation shelter: The Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., has been serving people affected by the Spokane Area Fires.
  • Fairview Fire evacuation center: Northwood Middle School, 12908 N. Pittsburg St., has been listed as an evacuation center for affected residents.
  • Stevens County shelters: Red Cross shelters have also been established in Chewelah and Kettle Falls for people affected by evacuations in Stevens County.
  • Animals and RVs: The Spokane County Fair and Expo Center at 404 N. Havana St. has been accepting evacuated animals and providing RV space for people accompanying them.
  • Showers and child care: Spokane County has shared information about temporary community services, including showers and emergency child care, during the response. Check current Spokane County updates before relying on specific locations or schedules.
  • Red Cross help: Find the nearest shelter through the American Red Cross shelter finder or call 800-733-2767.

For people looking to support local relief efforts, the Innovia Foundation Spokane Complex Wildfire Response Fund supports nonprofit and community organizations responding to immediate and long-term needs. The fund supports organizations providing aid rather than making direct payments to individuals.

Health support during smoke and recovery

Watch for smoke-related symptoms

Wildfire smoke can cause coughing, wheezing, irritated eyes and sinuses, headaches, shortness of breath, chest discomfort and worsening of existing heart or lung conditions. Children, older adults, pregnant people and people with asthma, COPD, heart disease or respiratory infections may be especially sensitive.

Call 911 for severe difficulty breathing, chest pain or another medical emergency.

Health care support for eligible BHT members

For eligible BHT member employees and benefit-eligible dependents in the Spokane area who have Nice Healthcare, Nice is another non-emergency option for support. Smoke-related respiratory concerns are within Nice’s primary care scope. A Nice primary care provider can assess symptoms, discuss clinically appropriate prescription or pharmacy adjustments and offer personalized guidance for someone managing asthma or another underlying condition.

Mental health support for eligible BHT members

The emotional effects of a disaster may not appear immediately. Stress, anxiety and emotional exhaustion can surface days or weeks later. Nice’s mental health therapy team can provide assessments, coping strategies and ongoing support. When a patient’s needs extend beyond Nice’s scope, the care team can help connect them with additional resources.

Learn more about Nice Healthcare through Business Health Trust.

Information for employers and employees

Wildfires can affect work through evacuations, school closures, smoke exposure and emergency-response duties. The Greater Spokane Inc. Fire Resources page brings together current guidance for local employers and employees.

Paid sick leave and emergency closures

Washington employees may be able to use accrued paid sick leave when a wildfire evacuation affects their home or workplace, or when a school or child care provider closes under an emergency declaration. Employers should avoid creating unnecessary documentation barriers when an evacuation order can be verified through official sources.

Workplace smoke protections

Employers with workers exposed to wildfire smoke should review Washington’s smoke-safety requirements, which may include monitoring PM2.5 levels, communicating changing conditions, reducing exposure and allowing employees with symptoms to seek medical care without retaliation.

Business recovery resources

The Greater Spokane page also links to small-business recovery tools, federal disaster resources and agricultural assistance. Availability may depend on later declarations and program eligibility.

What the emergency insurance order changes

Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer’s emergency insurance order took effect Aug. 3 and is scheduled to remain in effect through Sept. 30, 2026. It applies to property and auto insurers operating in Washington.

The order covers ZIP codes, along with adjacent ZIP codes, where wildfires have burned homes or other structures or where officials have issued evacuation orders. It directs insurers to:

  • Provide a 45-day grace period for premium payments and waive late and reinstatement fees.
  • Not cancel a policy for nonpayment unless the policyholder requests the cancellation.
  • Increase the required nonrenewal notice for property coverage from 60 to 120 days.
  • Increase the required nonrenewal notice for auto coverage from 20 to 60 days.

These protections provide additional time and stability during the emergency. They don’t erase unpaid premiums, decide whether a particular loss is covered or guarantee a specific claim payment.

The emergency order also allows out-of-state emergency adjusters to begin helping with Washington claims more quickly. This can give insurers additional capacity to respond to the large number of losses.

Earlier August 5 event information

The links in this section are retained as a historical record. They describe an event that has been postponed and should not be used as current attendance instructions.

The insurance event had been planned before the fires as a broader community discussion. As the emergency developed, the OIC shifted its focus toward wildfire claims and policyholder assistance. The location was first announced at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, then moved to Spokane City Hall and later to Shadle Park High School before the event was postponed.

The changes illustrate how quickly public plans may shift during a major emergency. Use current OIC and Spokane County updates rather than relying on an older event page, calendar listing or social media post.

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