By: Madison Bortfeld
Gray Fire in Spokane County Resources
Wildfires burn in Medical Lake and Elk leaving thousands in terror, panic and some even homeless. Level 3 evacuations (Go Now) are being held in areas throughout Spokane County, Medical Lake, Elk & more, burning 10,000+ acres & destroying hundreds of structures lost, with 10% of the fire now contained. And, air quality today (8/21/2023) as of 3:35pm is at a unhealthy 178, just 3 points below what would be labeled as “Very Unhealthy.”
With all of the chaos unfolding, we want to encourage our community members to jump in and help those who need it most right now:
- Those Who Lost Their Homes
- Children, Seniors & Pets (Air quality, shelter, food)
Please reach out to your family, friends and coworkers to see if you can help them or anyone they know who is impacted by the fire. Many shelters do not take pets and many children/seniors may be in need of resources.
If you are in need of immediate shelter:
- To find a shelter near you, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or download the free Red Cross Emergency app by texting “GETEMERGENCY” to 90999
- Spokane Falls Community College at 3410 W Whistalks Way Spokane, WA
- Riverside High School at 4120 E Deer Park Milan Rd Chatteroy, WA
There is also an immediate need for Red Cross Disaster Action Team Volunteers
If you are in need of resources visit the Trent Resource & Assistance Center:
- 3 daily meals
- Shower
- Restrooms
- Support services
- Cool spaces
- Hydration
- Snacks
Improved air quality for those seeking a safer indoor environment, you can visit:
- Spokane Libraries (Central, Shadle Park, Liberty Park, South Hill, and Indian Trail) Remain Open
Pets & Animals Impacted by the Gray Fire:
Many shelters may not accept pets, but our local resources may be able to help. Pets in need are currently being cared for at Spokane Falls Community College by HEART, SpokAnimal & PetSavers.
- Humane Evacuation Animal Rescue Team (Heart Spokane)
- SpokAnimal
- PetSavers
- Spokane Humane Society
- SCRAPS (owner surrenders or strays)
Large Animals & Livestock
- The Spokane County Fairgrounds and Expo Center – open for those needing to shelter large animals or livestock from evacuated areas
If any of the events have concerned you and you’re considering homeowners, auto or commercial insurance, we’d love to help. Give us a call and we can discuss your insurance options so you can have peace of mind the next time there’s a local tragedy or accident.
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For more resources:
Hazard Sheltering: https://my.spokanecity.org/hazardsheltering/
Spokane Shelters: https://sheltermespokane.org/
Red Cross Volunteers: https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer/urgent-need-for-volunteers.html
Pets & Disasters: https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/keeping-pets-and-people-healthy/emergencies.html
General Info & Livestock Info: https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=4581