Contact us at 800-422-8934 to let us know if you are impacted and if you need support navigating your workplace rights during this emergency.
On Aug. 1, WA Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency due to wildfires, including the Spokane Complex Fire that has, as of now, forced more than 60,000 people out of their homes.
We know some of our members are in the middle of this. We are thinking especially of our coworkers and union organizers at MultiCare Deaconess and Valley Hospitals, Kaiser Permanente in Spokane, Eastern State Hospital and DSHS facilities, Lincoln Hospital, Newport Hospital, and anyone across Eastern Washington who is dealing with evacuations, air quality, closures, the loss of their homes, and the stress of not knowing what comes next. Please call or email us if you are impacted by the ongoing emergency.
To every member affected: We are with you, we send our love and solidarity, and we are working to help.
What we’re doing right now
We are in contact with employers to ensure that members have access to paid leave and natural disaster protections in addition to protections already in your contracts. We are also in contact with state and federal officials to make sure the response is coordinated and that members who need help know how to get it.
We are actively compiling resources and will update this post as information becomes available.
Additional resources for members affected by the Spokane Complex wildfire:
- Washington State Labor Council – Disaster Relief Fund for union members in WA
- Emergency Management Assistance Compact
- Washington Department of National Resources Fire Dashboard and current wildfire incident information
- Your employer may have additional resources for emergency support. Please consult HR for information about potential Employee Assistance Programs
Emergency resources shared by the Spokane Alliance
- Spokane County evacuation information and maps
- City of Spokane emergency alerts
- Watch Duty wildfire tracking app and map
- SpokAnimal assistance for pets
- YMCA locations are available Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. for community members impacted by the fires who need access to showers and support spaces.
- Spokane Public Schools emergency drop-in camp for children ages 4 and older: Shadle Park High School, Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. This service provides families with time to address immediate needs while children are cared for in a safe environment.
- American Red Cross emergency assistance: Call 1-800-733-2763 for support and resources related to wildfire impacts.
- Spokane County Emergency Management preparedness resources
- Shelter Information
- Spokane Convention Center — 322 N. Spokane Falls Ct., Spokane (small pets welcome)
- Spokane County Fair & Expo Center — 404 N. Havana St., Spokane Valley (small and large animals and RVs welcome)
- Food and Immediate Assistance: Feast World Kitchen is providing free meals for wildfire-affected community members and first responders. Current updates are available here.
We’ll keep updating this page. Stay safe and reach out to your organizer or the union directly at 800-422-8934 to let us know if you are impacted and if you need support navigating your workplace rights during this emergency.
How you can help
When one of us is in need, we show up. That’s who we are. If you want to support your union siblings and the Spokane communities we serve, donate to our assistance fund on GoFundMe:
In addition, we are actively identifying organizations that are accepting donations:
- Innovia Foundation
- Red Cross
- The H.O.M.E. Starts Here fund, which is typically used to support services for people experiencing homelessness, is being activated to accept donations for community members impacted by the wildfires