Care should be taken when handling any materials from buildings that are damaged by the fire. Fire debris may contain hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead, metals, plastics, and chemicals that are harmful to everyone’s health. Please wear gloves, long sleeves, long pants, closed-toe shoes, and eye protection. Wear a properly fitted NIOSH-approved N95 or P100 respirator when exposure to ash or debris cannot be avoided. P100 or N100 masks are recommended for protection against potential asbestos exposure. Keep children and pets away from burned areas and ash. Visit the Spokane Regional Health District website for more safety information.
Property owners of wildfire damaged or destroyed structures must obtain an asbestos survey by an AHERA-certified (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Act) building inspector before removing debris and ash.
A negative asbestos survey allows for the removal and disposal of the debris by the property owner or by a hired contractor licensed in Washington. A copy of the survey results must accompany the waste. The waste will be accepted at Graham Road Landfill, or the Valley or Northside Transfer Stations. No ash is being accepted at the Waste to Energy facility.
A positive asbestos survey requires that the removal and disposal of the asbestos-containing ash/debris be conducted by a Washington Certified Asbestos Abatement Company.
File a Notice of Intent with Spokane Clean Air, whether the asbestos survey is positive or negative. A copy of the Notice of Intent is required by the City and County before issuing a building permit.
For more information, including asbestos service providers, visit the Spokane Clean Air website.
The City of Spokane's Waste to Energy facility may accept fire-damaged debris, but it does not accept ash.
Fire-damaged debris must be accompanied by a conventional or alternate asbestos survey completed by an AHERA-certified building inspector confirming that no asbestos is present. A copy of the negative survey must be provided to the Waste to Energy scale house when the material is delivered. Ash that does not contain asbestos is accepted at Spokane County Transfer Stations and requires documentation.
At the request of the State of Washington, EPA has been assigned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to survey, remove, and dispose of household hazardous materials from properties burned by wildfires in Spokane County. This includes removal of items such as paint, cleaners, solvents, oils, batteries, pesticides, and lithium-ion batteries. They do not remove asbestos. Learn more and see the status of EPA’s work at their website.
Fire retardant should not be washed into the street or into storm drains, as it could contain phosphorus, ash, and other chemicals of concern. Any fire debris, including ashes, with or without retardant on it, needs to follow the guidelines on the Spokane Regional Health District's website for both hazardous materials and asbestos testing.
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