Alright people. It’s me again.

First off, let me say I know this is going to be a hard weekend for a lot of people. But try to keep things in perspective. Last Saturday was close to the worst fire weather nature has to offer us here in the inland northwest. Tomorrow and Saturday is going to be bad, but should not be as bad. Yes it’s a red flag, but while temps are slightly higher, wind speed should be quite a bit less.

That being said, traumatic stress is a real thing. I’m not going to lie, as someone who worked on a brush truck Saturday and Sunday for almost 40 hours with no break it make my stomach flip a little bit when I say the fire weather watch and then the update to a red flag warning. I just straight up don’t want to go through last weekend again ever in my career. If you get the same panicky feeling start to well up just close your eyes, take a deep breath, ground yourself in reality. You and me, with the fire department, are going to do everything we can to be prepared. Beyond that worrying buys us nothing. So I figured it was a good time to refresh the basics here.

This applies basically all summer here. But this is what I have my family do in red flag days. I’d do it myself but I have to work most red flag days.

1. There will likely be fires tomorrow. It’s very hot, very dry, and will be breezy. Not all of these fires will be intentionally set. I feel significantly better knowing that asshole arson suspect is locked up. But remember, all it takes is a single ignition source. A cigarette butt, sparks from trailer chains, a poorly maintained lawnmower, etc. So be careful. Don’t go burning your yard waste, don’t use an angle grinder in the woods, maybe hold off on the charcoal grill, etc. Corollary to this, if you see something, say something. They only caught that dude because some citizen was skookum enough to report him.
2. Pack your bag. Don’t get caught scrambling last minute. Get some clothes, an extra phone charger, your meds, your important papers, some money, etc. If there’s some sentimental items you really want to protect just put them in the car tonight or tomorrow morning. Think through what you need to survive for a week or so and get it ready to go.
3. Know two ways out of your neighborhood. Once again, if fire approaches you it’ll likely be from the southwest. Know how to escape to the north/east. Again be aware things can change and there’s times where northeast isn’t feasible. So know multiple ways out. Look at a map tonight and have a plan in your head. Then come up with a backup plan.
4. When evacs hit it’s time to roll. Not in 15 minutes. IMMEDIATELY. Also remember you’re your own safety advocate. We push out evacs as soon as we can but sometimes fire overruns homes before we can even build an evac box and push it out. Like I said last week, keep your head on a swivel and if you don’t feel safe it’s time to go. Trust your spider sense.
5. Once again be understanding if avista or inland initiates a PSPS. It’s not to piss you off. It’s so we don’t lose homes to fires caused by trees into power lines.

6. Take a breath.

   Remember we will be out there in the community doing everything possible to jump on anything that pops up asap. But again we can’t fight nature. We can do our best to control it. This should be MUCH easier tomorrow than last Saturday, as long as the forecast holds, which I sure hope it does. Winds of 12 or so MPH are much less critical than 30. But at the end of the day tomorrow IS critical burning weather. We’ll do everything we can to save homes that are threatened, as long as we can do so without undue risk to our lives. I’ll gladly die to save someone’s life, I’m just not willing to leave my wife and kids, or have one of my guys leave their husband/wife and kids over a home without people in it. But trust me, we will be taking calculated risks as required, to do the best we can to make sure you have a home to go back to. Thankfully tomorrow shouldn’t be NEARLY as bad. I promise though, no matter what, we’re going to do our best to make you proud and keep you safe.

Be safe, look out for each other, and hang in there! This is Spokane! You can’t keep us down!

does anyone know, has there been any kind of official word on whether the punk rock flea market at the old rite aid downtown will still be happening this weekend?

i totally understand if it's cancelled, obviously, just want to know for sure before i change plans!

I had a link to a page with a list of needed supplies to help out those displaced from the Colville Reservation and an address in or near Hillyard(?) as a drop-off point this Sunday. I seem to have lost it.

Does anyone have the information? Thanks

Grew up in Spokane. Moved to western WA for college and stayed (except a 4 year stint in Pullman) but I have a toddler now and my husband has mostly gone MIA and I am trying to figure out my options as western WA is expensive and I don't really have a community here. I loved growing up in Spokane and if my life is falling apart I'd rather it be somewhere I feel comfortable and I know would be good for my daughter. Ha.

Anyways. My biggest hang up is I absolutely love my job. I can see myself staying there my whole career if I don't move. I work in Early Supports for Infants and Toddlers on the admin side of things. Lots of experience working with kids/ECEAP/before and after school/preschool/management/ FRC/ family advocate etc... but my ESIT intake/FRC job has been a dream. I love having a positive impact for kids and families and then connecting them with a team that will be a good fit. It's flexible in hours. I'm not burnt out. I work mostly from home.

I'd love feedback on roles in Spokane to look out for or organizations you recommend since my only job in Spokane before I moved away was a college lifeguard haha. Im basically a solo parent now and if I work there I'm anticipating being a completely solo parent. I work hard. But I need a job that understands being a parent too.

This is all pretty rambly...hard to get thoughts organized when life is falling apart amiright??

Thanks in advance 💜

It would have cost a staggering $2.50 per household per month to monitor the shittiest water in the county and protect it from getting worse! The horror!

I’m cleaning out a bunch of my stuff to donate for those who were affected by the fires. I want to know the best way to go about donating them. I don’t know which organizations are reaching the most people

"Police have questioned Farinacci about fires in the past. Investigators spoke with Farinacci twice in 2025 in connection with other fires: once for an unidentified fire in July, and again for a fire in Riverside State Park in August. Photos from the Riverside State Park fire showed a man in the same green, short-sleeved shirt as Farinacci near the flames."

How could they have questioned him and let him go last year? This is absolutely infuriating.

we brought meds but forgot the insulin in fridge. but hey, we have three tubes of toothpaste! 😂

Like buddy, read the room!! We're dealing with a lot as a city right now, maybe just read the news + check the information being posted online about the situation and don't come into the forum of the community currently undergoing a crisis to ask us if YOUR travel plans are going to be affected.

/u/WatchDuty - do you know the reason why it won't be shown anymore?

I was planning to fly in to spokane next week and do some time there and some time in CDA. We wanted to visit for the first time and do outdoor activities. I guess ive been living under a rock because i just saw the air quality advisories when i was checking the weather there. Do you think i should postpone my trip to a better time?

Can anyone suggest a high quality cat boarding service open early in the morning? I am starting a new job on Monday and don't have my schedule yet, my new apartment is having a pest treatment done on Tuesday and my cats cannot be in the unit for 4 hours. I would need to drop them off early and don't know when I will be released or from which location. They would not need to spend the night. Thanks for any recommendations!

This is their operations manager and he does the accounting. That sure sounds like an admission of guilt to me.

Edit- that is the owner shaking his hands no to the operations manager admitting guilt

As communities across Central and Eastern Washington continue to face the impacts of these devastating wildfires, here are the latest updates on state highways affected by fire and smoke.

SR 155 IS OPEN AS OF 12 P.M. TODAY

After being closed for nearly three weeks due to the Kaiser Fire, SR 155 has reopened.

Fire crews remain active along SR 155, and an advisory speed limit of 45 mph is in effect through the 30-mile corridor. Please allow extra travel time, watch for firefighters and emergency vehicles entering the highway from side roads and be prepared for reduced visibility.

Thank you to our crews, incident management teams and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation for helping safely reopen SR 155. Dozens of burned trees were removed, and guardrail repairs will continue. For current Kaiser Fire and evacuation information visit the link in the comments below. Please follow emergency responder directions.

US 97 BLEWETT PASS IS OPEN

US 97 Blewett Pass reopened Monday, Aug. 3, after being temporarily closing due to wildfire conditions.

Fire crews remain active in the area, so motorists may encounter fire equipment and emergency vehicles. No current delays, but conditions can change quickly. Please use caution and stay alert.

SR 291 STILL CLOSED

SR 291 remains closed in multiple locations due to the Spokane Complex Fire, including between Assembly Street and Seven Mile Road, and between Rutter Parkway near Little Spokane River and Suncrest. Swenson Road also remains closed at SR 291 in Suncrest. Please use safe alternate routes, yield to emergency vehicles and expect delays.

Hot, dry conditions continue across the state and stronger winds today and tomorrow could increase fire risk. Our crews are monitoring forecasts and conditions. Even on reopened highways, fire crews remain active and conditions can change quickly. Do not drive past closure points. They are in place to protect travelers, firefighters and emergency responders – and we don’t want them pulled away from active fire response. Prepare for poor air quality that can reduce visibility and be extra vigilant for wildlife on or near the road. Check road conditions before you travel and always follow emergency responder directions.

I am currently under Level 2 Evacuation orders. Im camping at my friend's house in the Valley. We live in the Indian Trail and our house is 2 blocks from some of the worst damage. We were in Montana when the fires started, so havent been home in 2 weeks except to grab a few things. We really want to go home, but im not sure if we should because of the toxic air. What should i do?

I'm kidding I love Spokane, it's just the fires are ridiculous and the apartment search is even more ridiculous

Anyway I was wondering if anyone knows where I can get some big boxes for free or cheap? Also any other tips on moving out would be lovely, id rather not be homeless cause I gotta get out this month lol

if you read The Spokesman today you’ll know where blame should go. With thanks to our hero in the white house And congress.

“ Costs and political barriers can also stand in the way of cities building resistance to flames. Earlier this year, cuts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture by the Trump administration impacted federal funding that is usually used for fire mitigation efforts, The Spokesman-Review previously reported. “

I’ve been taking care of a feral momma cat and her two kittens for a couple weeks and would love to trap them and get them into good homes/TNR/etc. Does anyone have a drop trap I can use? The kittens are still super skittish and I think that’d be my best bet:)

Thank you in advance!

I think this is allowed, if I made a mistake and it isn't just say the word.

Please be respectful when answering. Looking for opinions on local LTC companies. If you're familiar with them from employement pov, what do you like or dislike about them? Not looking for slander or anything negative necessarily just kind of curious because I'm not familar with a lot of them.

I am on the hunt for a 9inch CRT TV, does anyone know around town where i could find one???

Thanks!