Spokane community helping each other and emergency responders during devastation
Aug 6, 2026, 1:30 PM
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
As three wildfires continue to burn across Spokane County Thursday morning, the community is coming together to help first responders — and each other.
At the Incident Command Post where fire crews are staging, people are driving up with cars full of water, Gatorade, snacks, and even entire meals to deliver to first responders.
Spokane County Deputy Doug Hicks told KIRO 7 it’s overwhelming to see how many people are willing to help without even being asked.
“You can’t help but get emotional about it; it’s so incredible to see people come together,” Hicks said.
One Valley Regional Fire Authority firefighter told KIRO 7 that people are coming up to them asking what they need and how they can help, even though many of those people have lost everything.
KIRO 7 also spoke with Jake Personett, he and his dad’s home burned down near Old Fort Rd. on Saturday.
“Over the course of 15 minutes, it went from a level one to level three evacuation in my neighborhood,” Personett said. “It went up the hill and torched our whole neighborhood.”
He told KIRO 7 they lost vintage cars, their house, and everything in it.
However, Personett showed up to his interview with us with donation items in the back seat of his truck.
He said he has spent the past few days driving to each evacuation shelter, finding out what they need, then purchasing those exact items to donate.
Personett told KIRO 7 he is using all the money in his own checking account and much of what has been raised on his GoFundMe page to make those purchases.
Those who would like to donate to his efforts can find that page here.
A Spokane boot company is also getting in on the action.
JK Boots Owner Tim Khadzhi said they make specialized boots for firefighters and the dangerous conditions they work in.
He said they have been giving away more than 50 pairs to firefighters in need.
Khadzhi said some of those firefighters are showing up to their tent with their soles falling off, stitching busting at the seams, and even duct tape holding some of the shoes together.
“It’s a mix of shock and joy when they get them; we saw some tears, and the feeling is that they feel supported and seen, not just someone out there doing something for nothing,” Khadzhi said.
He said they will continue to give away boots until either they run out or the need runs out, whichever comes first.
