Wildfire — Spokane, Washington’s & More Insurance Departments React

This is an evolving story being written at noon on Tuesday, August 4th. By the time you read this the situation will have changed.

Three wildfires in Spokane, Washington have destroyed over 700 homes and businesses, and other buildings. Over 67,000 people have been evacuated and some will return to see an empty, charred lot where everyday lives filled with hopes, dreams and a future once lived.

Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said they have arrested 37-year old Aaron Farinacci in connection with the Old Trails fire. He is being charged with first degree arson and held on a $1 million bond. Witnesses said they saw him kneeling in the grass where the fire started.

"We believe it was matches or a lighter. When he was detained ... he was found to be in possession of some waterproof matches and a butane lighter," the sheriff said.

Farinacci’s record includes a manslaughter conviction.

At press time, the Old Trails Fire and the Fairview Fire are still burning. Firefighters have focused more on the Autumn Lane Fire.

Daniel Ramey, a spokesperson for the California Interagency Incident Management Team 7, said his group is helping fight the fires.

"It looks like Wednesday into Friday we're going to be seeing a heat trend up to the 90s, so it's really time for us to put in the work ... on this fire up north and continue the efforts with getting the communities back into their homes as soon as possible below us," he said.

Compared to other, better-known, fires, the Spokane blazes are rather small. However, Ramey said they began in the wildland-urban interface where homes and other buildings sit on the border of, or within, a wilderness area.

"There's always a chance when you live next to trees and grass and the beautiful nature that you're going to have a potential for fire like we saw," he said. "We didn't have rain for the whole month of July in this area, so everything was extremely dry. Everything was susceptible to those new starts, like we saw.”

Fires in the Pacific Northwest are the worst in over 30-years. There are 16 major fires burning in Washington alone. Idaho has a couple and Oregon has one tied to an Idaho fire and the state is on high alert. So far, California’s wildfire season has been fairly uneventful. A few fires but nothing like past years.

What’s most frightening is how thin firefighting forces have become.

For people now traumatized by the fires, NW Insurance Council President Kenton Brine urges them to obey evacuation orders.

"The first priority is protecting yourself and your family,” Brine said. "If you've been evacuated or your home or business has been damaged, contact your insurance company or agent as soon as possible to begin the claims process.”

Brine noted that insurers already have claims personnel on the ground in the Spokane area to assist victims.

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide wildfire emergency and has initiated a statewide burn ban. This is effective through September 30th.

“Our record-setting drought and high winds are creating dangerous conditions across the state,” Ferguson said. “I am declaring an emergency to help prevent loss of life and property damage. I encourage all Washingtonians to do their part to protect our state during these extreme conditions.”

The governor has also activated 110 members of the Washington National Guard to help fight wildfires across the state. The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office has mobilized 13 task forces.

Washington Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer issued an emergency order on Monday to provide relief to Washington policyholders impacted by the recent wildfires (PDF 275.48KB).

Her order is in effect from Aug. 3 – Sept. 30, 2026, and applies to all property and auto insurers operating in Washington state.

It directs insurers to:

• Provide 45-day grace periods for premium payments and waive all late fees and reinstatement fees.

• Not cancel a policy for nonpayment unless directed to do so by the policyholder.

• Extend the nonrenewal notice period for property coverage from 60 days to 120 days before the expiration date of the policy. For auto coverage, the extension is from 20 to 60 days.

Kurderer’s order applies to all zip codes and adjacent zip codes in Washington state where wildfires have burned homes or other structures or where official evacuation orders have been issued.

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation has issued Wildfire Emergency Order and bulletin for people affected by the state’s growing wildfire situation. It requires all property and casualty insurance companies to take proactive measures to protect people in wildfire affected areas. The order:

• Suspends cancellations and nonrenewals

• Establishes a grace period for premium payments for all insurance policies issued, delivered, or covering a risk in the affected areas

• Extends all deadlines for policyholders to report claims or submit other communication related to claims

• Take all practicable steps to provide opportunities for policyholders to report claims

The order applies to all insurance companies transacting property and casualty insurance in Oregon.

It provides temporary protections to policyholders in affected areas, including those in ZIP codes subject to wildfire evacuation notices as provided in the order. The emergency order follows Gov. Tina Kotek’s state of emergency declaration on June 16 due to the imminent threat of wildfires. Since that declaration, Gov. Kotek has invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for 11 fires.

Source link: CBS News — https://bit.ly/4xfWa8R

Source link: Associated Press — https://bit.ly/4gcJD0h

Source link: Insurance Journal — https://bit.ly/3TSGhqz

Source link: Washington Department of Insurance — https://bit.ly/4hQ5E6h

Source link: Oregon Department of Insurance — https://bit.ly/4fTgZ2U