State emergency proclamation amidst community relief efforts for Washington fires - ICT
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As crews work to fight fires across Washington state, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Spokane Tribe of Indians and the Confederated Bands and Tribes of the Yakama Nation are all grappling with the impacts.

Nika Bartoo-Smith
Underscore Native News + ICT

Note: This story is based on the latest available information as of 4:30 p.m. PST, Aug. 13. Please refer to your local government, fire agency websites and social media for the most timely information regarding evacuations and road closures. For information on where to donate, check with the tribes being impacted by fires on their websites and Facebook pages.

Of the nearly two dozen fires across seven counties currently burning in Washington state, three Native nations continue to be impacted.

As fire crews work to contain the blazes, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson issued an emergency proclamation Monday, suspending certain laws to assist those impacted by the fires.

The work continues beyond fighting the fires themselves, as nonprofit organizations and individual community members step up to assist tribal governments in providing relief for community members who have been affected by the fires.

Kaiser Canyon Fire and Modrite Fire, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation

Multiple fires, including the Kaiser Canyon Fire and the Modrite Fire are currently impacting the Colville Reservation in northeastern Washington.

As of 8:36 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, the Kaiser Canyon Fire has burned 138,272 acres and is 81 percent contained, according to Inciweb. The Modrite Fire has burned 57,778 acres and is 76 percent contained, as of 9:55 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13.

The Cedar Fund of the Colville Indian Reservation has established a fund to provide direct assistance to individuals and families affected by the fires. The donations will help meet immediate needs for emergency shelter, food, clothing and other support. It will also go toward helping people begin the process of rebuilding their homes.

Mitre Rock Fire, Spokane Tribe of Indians

Fires in Spokane, Washington recently forced over 60,000 people to evacuate their homes. It destroyed or damaged over 900 homes.

The Spokane Tribe of Indians, about an hour away and whose ancestral homelands encompass much of the Spokane region, are also dealing with the impacts of the Mitre Rock fire.

The Mitre Rock fire, on the Spokane Reservation, burned 4,518 acres and was 100 percent contained as of August 11, according to Inciweb.

White Swan/Ransier Fire and Signal Peak Fire, Confederated Bands and Tribes of the Yakama Nation

The White Swan/Ransier Fire has burned 1,330 acres and is at 92 percent containment, according to the latest update on Watch Duty as of Aug. 9. All evacuation orders were lifted as of August 10.

At its peak, the fire triggered a Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation notice for the town of White Swan.

The Signal Peak fire, which burned 3,047 acres, reached 100 percent containment as of July 30, according to Watch Duty.

According to the latest release from Yakama Nation, on July 30, the two fires collectively destroyed 27 structures including 14 occupied homes, the local post office and the Shaker Church.

The Confederated Bands and Tribes of the Yakama Nation are now accepting donations to assist individuals and families recovering from the fires.

Community-led relief efforts, and state support

Around Oregon and Washington, nonprofits and community members have been hosting donation drives since the wildfires began.

River Warriors and xa?xa? Indigenous Birth Justice is one such nonprofit organization offering on the ground support for those impacted by the fires in Colville and Spokane. The organization is accepting monetary donations to help provide relief for families and individuals.

In Portland, Oregon on Aug. 11 and 12, Kimberly Lining, of Navajo, Hopi and Mexican descent, sat under a tarp outside the Freedom Foursquare Church in southeast Portland, almost to Gresham.

Lining, the founder of the MMIW Search & Hope Alliance, collected donations to send to Yakama Nation. She said currently the greatest needs she is hearing are for towels, laundry detergent, dish soap, water and pet food.

“We are in the poorest community in the city,” Lining said. “To watch some of our community members who I know do not have a lot, come by and donate towels, and give what they already don’t have, let’s me know we’re on the right path.”

As other donation sites continue to pop up across Oregon and Washington, the most up-to-date information about where to donate, both physical supplies and monetary donations, can be found on tribes’ websites and via social media.

On Aug. 1, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide state of emergency and issued a burnban through Sept. 30.

“This may be the worst fire season in Washington state history, and that’s saying something,” Ferguson said during a press conference on Aug.10.

Some of the actions outlined in Ferguson’s proclamation are detailed below.

  • For individuals impacted by the fire, the governor’s action makes it easier to obtain critical documents such as driver’s licences, birth certificates and vehicle registration by waiving the fee for those impacted by the fires. Assistance for obtaining new copies of personal documents is available on-site at the resource center set up at Shadle Park High School in Spokane.
  • The Department of Licensing will also grant extra time for individuals to renew their business and professional licenses.
  • The proclamation also ensures that anyone who lost their home in the fires e is eligible for assistance, regardless of insurance or income, through the State Individual Assistance Program. It also opens up cash assistance to include families without children through the Family Emergency Assistance Program.
  • The unemployment benefits are being expedited as well –  those who are out of work due to the fires do not have to wait the standard week.
  • Certain eviction-related actions are also limited, including that landlords anywhere in the state are prohibited from evicting tenants for hosting people and their pets displaced by the wildfires.
  • Under the proclamation, rules limiting the number of hours truck drivers can drive have been suspended, as long as they get enough sleep.
  • Late fees will be waived for employers who can’t file or pay their second quarter 2026 taxes on time due to the fires.
  • The proclamation gives healthcare providers extra time to renew their licenses. It also waves state laws in the construction of new facilities in fire impacted areas.

A comprehensive overview of the emergency proclamation can be found on the Washington governor’s website.

This story is co-published byUnderscore Native NewsandICT, a news partnership that covers Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest.

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