For NWRA, Spokane is Home. Right Now, Home is Hurting.

Spokane is no stranger to wildfires. Every year, eastern Washington experiences dozens of fires. And every year, wildfire smoke blankets our communities for days, sometimes weeks. But August 1, 2026 was different.

High winds and scorching temperatures helped create the perfect conditions for a disaster of epic proportions. What is now known as the Spokane Complex Fires tore a path directly into the city, through multiple neighborhoods and portions of the state park, devastating our local community.

When it was done, more than 65,000 people had been forced to evacuate, 10,000 acres were burned, and at least 600 homes were gone. Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown deemed the fires the “worst natural disaster in our history,” and the Spokane City Council has declared a state of emergency until October 1.

As the birthplace of our company and the city where the majority of our employees still live and work, Spokane is important to us. And in the aftermath of the fires, many residents remain without permanent housing, in need of essential items, and in search of resources for the future.

Thousands Remain Displaced in Spokane

In a span of 24 hours, thousands of Spokanites were rendered homeless and lost nearly everything they own. In some neighborhoods, entire blocks have reduced to rubble and charred trees.

Since evacuation orders were lifted August 10, other residents have returned home to fire-ravaged neighborhoods to find homes that are standing but currently inhabitable due to extreme damage and safety concerns, including elevated levels of lead and other contaminants.

A number of Northwest Registered Agent employees were forced to evacuate, and one employee lost their home. Dozens more live in or near neighborhoods that were heavily affected by the fires, while countless others have friends or family members who also lost homes, or saw their childhood neighborhoods decimated. There’s no doubt Spokane will continue to feel the effects of the fires for months and years to come, and so will we.

Supporting Spokane Families and Students

As we move into the future, an essential aspect of supporting fire recovery is making sure that local families and students are supported. Our local schools and community organizations play a key role in helping families adjust and move forward in the aftermath of disaster. With the fires occurring so close to the beginning of the new school year, Northwest is actively supporting the community with financial contributions and hands-on volunteer assistance.

We’re working with Communities In Schools Spokane to help families and students impacted by these fires go into the school year set up for success. Communities In Schools Spokane will be helping to support the four schools in the Spokane Public School District that were most directly impacted by the fire. This includes Indian Trail, Woodridge, and Balboa Elementary Schools and Flett Middle School.

In addition to making a monetary donation to the organization, our Spokane team volunteered at a community supply event at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center on August 20. Northwest also has plans to support additional local relief efforts as we move into the fall.

“Spokane is home. It’s where our company was started, and it’s where many of our team members continue to live and raise their families,” says Tim Peterson, our Chief People Officer. “When our neighbors are facing something as devastating as these wildfires, we’ll be there to help in any way we can.”

Looking Ahead: Support Spokane Fire Recovery

Want to help our community recover from the Spokane Complex Fires?

We’ve compiled a list of local and independent organizations that prioritize getting resources to those who need them without a lot of bureaucratic red tape.

General Recovery Funds:

Innovia Foundation

• Spokane Complex Wildfire Response Fund: Distributed to Innovia’s local non-profit partners.

United Ways of the Pacific Northwest

• Greater Spokane Recovery Fund: Distributed to local UW chapters to help wildfire victims.

Housing:

HOME Starts Here (City of Spokane)

• Temporary Spokane Complex Fire Relief Fund: Used to help individuals displaced by the fires with rent assistance and access to basic supplies.

Spokane Area Fires Community Housing Board

• Free or reduced temporary housing: Provide free or reduced housing to residents displaced by the fires.

Essential Supplies:

Adventist Community Services & Spokane County Emergency Management

• Wildfire Relief Donation and Distribution Site: Drop off new school supplies, bedding, non-perishable food, baby supplies, pet supplies, hygiene supplies, kitchenware, and paper goods (no used items and no clothing, furniture, appliances, or toys) at 4750 N. Division Street, daily, 8am-7:30pm

Catholic Charities

• Spokane Complex Fire Support Fund: Used to provide essential supplies to those impacted by the fires through the charity’s Emergency Response Team.

Global Neighborhood Thrift & Vintage

• Clothing donations: Drop clothing off at Emergency Fire Donation Bins located at:

Thrift Store, 905 E Trent Ave
St. Mark’s Church, 316 E. 24th Ave
Waste to Energy, 2900 S Geiger Blvd
North Transfer Station, 22123 N Elk Chattaroy Rd
Valley Transfer Station, 3941 N Sullivan Rd

Partners INW

• Wildfire Relief Donations: Used to provide food and clothing assistance, emergency support, and other essential resources to individuals and families in need.

Project Beauty Share

• Wildfire Relief Fund: Used to help provide personal hygiene and other essential products to families affected by the fires.
• Hygiene supply donations: Drop off toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine products, soap, razors, lotion, deodorant, hair brushes, combs, lip balm, etc., at the Project Beauty Share warehouse at 2718 E Sprague Ave, M-Th, 8am-3pm and F 9am–12pm.

Second Harvest

• Spokane Wildfire Response: Used to provide emergency food boxes and supplies, along with fire food market pop-ups in various locations.
• Food donations: Drop off non-perishable food items at 1234 East Front Ave, M-F, 8:30am-4pm.

Pet Support:

SpokAnimal

• Financial donations: Used to help cover the costs of emergency pet boarding, veterinary care, food, supplies, and other help to pets and families
• Food and supplies donations: Drop off pet food and other supplies at the SpokAnimal Event Center at 715 N Crestline St, M-Th, 7:30am-4:30pm
• Volunteer foster program: Sign up to foster pets for owners who have lost their homes or been displaced.

HEART (Humane Evacuation & Animal Rescue Team)

• Financial donations: Funds go directly to HEART, to be used for animal supplies and emergency and ongoing care.