City of Spokane Announces New Tools, Resources to Support Fire Recovery and Rebuilding

Erin Hut, Communications Director, ehut@spokanecity.org

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 10:33 a.m.

As Spokane continues its recovery from the recent wildfire, the City is taking the next steps to help residents and neighborhoods rebuild. Today, the City of Spokane announced a coordinated package of new resources and legislative proposals designed to provide greater transparency, streamline the rebuilding process, and put City staff directly alongside residents as they navigate recovery. 

Public Damage Assessment Dashboard 

The City of Spokane has compiled a public damage assessment dashboard that shows the status of every impacted structure and those generally within 500 feet of the burn area. 

Work to create the dashboard began immediately following the Spokane Complex Fire (Old Trails, Autumn Lane, Fairview). Once it was possible for trained staff to enter, the City’s building inspectors drove through the burn area and assessed each structure, home, and property for damage. This work was done by inspectors trained and certified in FEMA’s damage assessment standards and assisted by members of the Planning & Economic Development Department. 

The initial assessment was completed within a day and half, creating a successful first round assessment for City of Spokane staff to rely on for initial planning response to the fires, as well as the first steps toward recovery. 

Following the initial assessment, City staff were assigned to the regional Emergency Operations Center where they worked closely with local, state, and federal agencies to build a more robust and confirmed damage assessment for both Spokane and Stevens Counties. The efforts of many partners were combined into a single assessment, providing a clear understanding of losses from all three fires. 

The new dashboard provides important summary information, as well as site-by-site data on the level of damage, address, and parcel number of each structure. By clicking on each structure, viewers can see important information and find an email link to report any errors or to ask questions about the structure.

In the coming weeks, the City will add additional functions to this tool, including the status of demolition and construction permits, and eventually, information showing which properties have been rebuilt and are ready for move-in. 

Anyone with questions and/or corrections about this new tool can email RebuildSpokane@spokanecity.org or contact the Development Services Center at 509-625-6300.

Rebuilding and Recovery Legislation

The Brown Administration is bringing forward two ordinances focused on rebuilding that will identify opportunities to assist fire-affect residents move from recovery to reconstruction. Together, these ordinances propose: 

  • “Like-for-Like:" This provision provides flexibility to waive and modify certain development standards to facilitate rebuilding of properties of destroyed by the fires. 
  • ADUs Before Principal Dwelling: This provision allows accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to be permitted and occupied before construction or replacement of the principal dwelling. This would also allow residents to use their ADU as a residence during rebuilding.
  • GFC Waivers: This provision provides that a rebuild project that is rebuilt with the same meter size is not considered a new service and is not charged a general facility charge.
  • Permit Fee Deferral: This provision allows a rebuild project to defer its building permit fees until the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. This also provides the City an opportunity to seek permit fee relief from state, federal, or philanthropic sources. 

Remote Development Services Office: 

The City of Spokane’s Development Services Center is setting up a remote office at the Shadle Park Library starting September 21. Every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through October 2, a current City Planner and Plan Reviewer will be on-site to meet with fire-impacted residents. These staff members will be available to evaluate needs and help residents navigate permitting services. 

The City will evaluate extending these services beyond October 2 depending on need. 

“Recovery does not end when the flames are out. For many of our neighbors, the hardest work is just beginning,” Mayor Lisa Brown said. “At the City of Spokane, we want to make rebuilding as accessible and straightforward as possible. We are bringing information to the public, looking for legislative approaches to ease the burden, and putting our staff directly in the community to help people navigate this process.”