Ferguson to unlock resources for wildfire victims, roll back laws
Aug 11, 2026, 5:14 AM | Updated: 5:15 am
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
The state is taking action to help victims of the devastating Old Trails, Autumn Lane, and Fairview fires in and around Spokane, as well as wildfires across the state.
Governor Bob Ferguson announced a proclamation Monday aimed at speeding up the rebuilding process. The proclamation will roll back a slew of laws and regulations to help address the needs of the thousands of people affected by the historic wildfire season.
More than a week after firefighters from around the country descended on Spokane, people are now returning home to find their belongings turned to ash. Another round of help is now on the way.
“One of my jobs in this situation is to make sure we are unlocking all the resources that the state government can provide to help people,” Ferguson said.
Ferguson toured some of the fire damage Sunday night. In affected areas, his proclamation will waive fees for reprinting documents lost in the fires, make unemployment funds available immediately, prohibit evictions for the next two weeks and much more.
“Many Washingtonians, as you know, have lost everything literally,” he said.
Ferguson isn’t the only one stepping up. Spokane firefighters took to the streets in some of the hardest-hit areas Monday to hand out care packages to people who must now repair or rebuild their homes.
They spoke to Guy Smith in a neighborhood that was dyed pink by airdrops. The planes came in time to save his neighbors’ homes, but not his.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” a firefighter told him.
“Thank you. It’s just not going to change,” Smith said. “I can deal with it pretty well. Everything is going to come out fine.”
The firefighters said it is hard to see what happened to their community. The path forward does not seem clear, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t take it.
“The recovery effort, it’s going to go on and on,” Spokane firefighter Jeremy Heimbigner said. “Months and years. It’s just one day at a time.”
Ferguson said he will send a Major Disaster Relief Request to the federal government, which will unlock even more funding for recovery efforts. The process is a lengthy one.
Ferguson said the request is comprehensive and will require a head count of all the people whose properties were destroyed or damaged in the fires. That statistic is not yet clear, though fire officials report around 900 structures burned.
You can read the full proclamation here.
