Spokane is Home
Our hearts are with everyone impacted by the devastating wildfires across Spokane County.
If your home, farm, forest, or property has been affected, you are not alone. Spokane Conservation District is helping landowners evaluate post-fire conditions, understand recovery options, and connect with trusted local, state, and federal resources.
Whether you need immediate assistance, help recovering your property, or guidance for reducing future wildfire risk, start with the options below.
Post-Fire Technical Assistance from SCD
Spokane Conservation District forestry and natural resource staff are responding to post-fire requests throughout Spokane County. Requests are reviewed and site visits are prioritized based on urgency, property risks, and staff capacity.
During a site visit, SCD staff may help:
- Evaluate hazardous trees and tree
survivability - Identify immediate property and natural resource risks
- Assess soil, ground cover, drainage, and erosion concerns
- Determine whether burned areas may recover naturally
- Discuss invasive plants, revegetation, and reforestation
- Address concerns affecting forests, farms, ranches, and working lands
- Connect landowners with appropriate programs and technical resources
Our team will review the information you submit and follow up as capacity allows. Submitting a request does not guarantee funding, project assistance, or immediate service.
Find Guidance for Your Property
Wildfire affects every property differently. Open the sections below to find guidance for your most immediate concerns. Detailed information, contacts, and additional resources are available in the Spokane Wildfire Recovery Resource Guide.
Hazardous Trees & Forest Recovery
Fire effects are not always immediately visible. Some trees that appear severely burned may survive, while damage to roots, trunks, or crowns can create delayed hazards. A site-specific assessment is the best place to begin.
Request an assessment before removing large numbers of trees, working near damaged trees, replanting areas that may regenerate naturally, or entering into a salvage-logging agreement.
Before removing fire-damaged timber or signing a salvage-logging agreement, contact the Washington Department of Natural Resources for professional guidance.
Soil, Erosion & Water Protection
Reduced vegetation and changes to burned soil can increase runoff, erosion, sediment movement, and localized flooding.
Contact SCD if you notice gullies, moving sediment, exposed roots, damaged culverts, runoff threatening a home or roadway, or ash and sediment entering a stream, wetland, pond, or well area.
Avoid installing barriers or erosion-control materials without considering how they may redirect water. The appropriate solution depends on the property’s slopes, soils, drainage patterns, and burn severity.
Reseeding, Invasive Plants & Reforestation
Seeding and replanting are not automatically needed after every wildfire. Existing roots, native seedbanks, burn severity, soil conditions, slope, land use, and invasive-plant pressure should be evaluated first.
Use certified weed-free seed suited to the property and identify whether the goal is temporary cover, forage, native plant recovery, erosion reduction, or long-term restoration. Evaluate natural tree regeneration before ordering or planting seedlings.
Farms, Ranches & Working Lands
Wildfire recovery on working lands may involve livestock safety, fencing, forage, water systems, erosion, weeds, access roads, forest resources, and business continuity.
Document affected acres, livestock losses or displacement, damaged infrastructure, bare soil, concentrated water flow, new weed infestations, and other property impacts. Keep photographs, maps, receipts, production records, and insurance correspondence.
Contact the appropriate agency before beginning work that may be considered for reimbursement. Work completed before receiving approval may not qualify.
Ash, Debris & Hazardous Materials
Ash and debris from burned structures may contain asbestos, lead, batteries, fuels, pesticides, household chemicals, and other hazards. Do not treat structural ash like ordinary yard debris. Keep children and pets away, limit dust, and follow current cleanup instructions.
SCD can help with land, vegetation, erosion, and water-resource concerns. SCD does not remove structural debris, test buildings for asbestos, authorize re-entry, or replace guidance from EPA, Spokane County, public health agencies, utilities, or emergency officials.
Household & Community Recovery
For needs related to shelter, food, housing, transportation, insurance, financial assistance, mental health, or family support, begin with Washington 211 or Spokane County’s current wildfire recovery resources.
Spokane Wildfire Recovery Resource Guide
This guide brings together practical recovery information for Spokane County landowners, including immediate resources, SCD technical assistance, hazardous trees, erosion, reseeding, reforestation, working lands, hazardous debris, and trusted partner contacts.
Updated September 2026
Prepare for Future Wildfires
Taking action before a wildfire can reduce risks to homes, structures, forests, and surrounding properties. Spokane County residents can request a free assessment to identify practical improvements based on their property.
Free Firewise Property Assessments
During a free Firewise assessment, an SCD forester will visit your property, evaluate wildfire risks, and provide practical recommendations for defensible space, vegetation management, and home protection.
Home Hardening & the Home Ignition Zone
Wind-driven embers and small flames are leading causes of home ignition during wildfires. Home hardening addresses vulnerable parts of the structure, while Home Ignition Zone practices focus on the home and the area immediately surrounding it.
An assessment may cover vulnerable roofs, gutters, vents, decks, exterior materials, combustible vegetation, and practical actions that can reduce wildfire risk.
Defensible Space & Fire-Resilient Landscaping
Defensible space is the area around a home or structure that is designed and maintained to reduce wildfire risk and provide safer conditions for firefighters. Recommendations vary based on vegetation, slope, surrounding land, and other property conditions.
Hazardous Fuels Reduction
Accumulated vegetation, brush, forest debris, and small trees can allow fire to move from the ground into the forest canopy. A hazardous fuels reduction plan may recommend thinning, pruning, debris management, or other practices based on the property.
Cost-share assistance may be available through SCD or agency partners depending on current funding, property eligibility, and program requirements.
Collaboration for Stronger Communities
Trusted Partners & Agencies
Wildfire recovery crosses many areas of responsibility. SCD works alongside organizations with complementary expertise to help residents reach the appropriate source of assistance.
Washington DNR: Private forest management, forest health, fuels reduction, wildfire information, and salvage-logging guidance
USDA NRCS: Conservation planning and potential financial assistance for farms, ranches, forests, soil, water, and erosion
USDA Farm Service Agency: Disaster assistance programs for agricultural producers, including support for livestock losses, damaged fences, lost grazing land, debris removal, and rehabilitation of fire-damaged farmland
Washington Department of Ecology: Air quality, water quality, spills, waste, and environmental protection
WSU Extension: Research-based forestry, agriculture, horticulture, and land-management education
Spokane County and SREC 911: Emergency information, evacuations, roads, permitting, public safety, and county services
Spokane Regional Health District: Smoke exposure, sanitation, cleanup, food, and water concerns
EPA and FEMA: Federal hazardous-material cleanup and disaster recovery assignments
After the Fire Washington and Spokane Region Long Term Recovery Group: Recovery navigation and long-term community support
Not Sure Where to Begin?
Whether you are addressing wildfire damage now or preparing for future wildfire, Spokane Conservation District can help you identify practical next steps within our areas of expertise. When another organization is better suited to assist, we will help connect you with the appropriate resource.
509-535-7274
info@spokanecd.org
Forestry Contacts
Ben Peterson, Forester | ISA Certified Arborist
509-535-7274, ext. 215 | Ben-Peterson@SpokaneCD.org
Allison Ranusch, Forestry Technician | ISA Certified Arborist
509-535-7274, ext. 238 | Allison@SpokaneCD.org
Matt Stewart, ISA Certified Arborist | 509-535-7274, ext. 273 | Matt@SpokaneCD.org
Garth Davis, Department Manager
509-535-7274, ext. 212 | Garth-Davis@SpokaneCD.org
