2023 Wildfires

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Washington Department of Natural Resources sues Inland Power, claiming company has refused to reimburse costs related to Gray Fire

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 13, 2024

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is suing Inland Power and Light over costs the department incurred from investigating the Gray fire, a blaze that devastated the West Plains last year.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Inland Power says sparks that caused Gray fire were not predictable, denies liability in response to lawsuit

UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 21, 2024

Inland Power and Light denied responsibility for the Gray Fire earlier this month when responding to a lawsuit brought by Medical Lake area residents impacted by the blaze.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Medical Lake, Elk residents rebuild from devastating wildfires one year ago

UPDATED: Mon., Aug. 19, 2024

It has been a year since flames swept through the southern and northern ends of Spokane County destroying 366 homes and thousands of acres.

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News >  Crime/Public Safety

‘It’s going to be a long process’: Local leaders caution that federal fire aid will take time to arrive

Thu., Feb. 22, 2024

When Medical Lake Mayor Terri Cooper heard that Spokane County would receive federal aid to help recover from this summer’s wildfires, relief washed over her.

News >  Spokane

Biden signs disaster declaration six months after Spokane wildfires

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 20, 2024

President Joe Biden issued a major disaster declaration Monday, six months after the Gray and Oregon Road wildfires devastated parts of Spokane County. The move unlocks a slew of federal aid.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Cause of Oregon Road fire undetermined, DNR says

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 9, 2024

The Department of Natural Resources was unable to determine a definitive cause of the Oregon Road fire after a lengthy investigation.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

‘It still stings’: Man who discovered the Gray fire reflects on fighting the blaze and its subsequent destruction

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 7, 2024

David Yuhas loaded his sons into his car, met up with a friend and headed out on Aug. 18 to the Jensen Memorial Youth Ranch for some fun.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Sparks from Inland Power light caused Gray fire, DNR investigation finds

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 6, 2024

The Gray fire that devastated Medical Lake in August was caused by sparks from an Inland Power and Light security light mounted to a pole, a Department of Natural Resources investigation found.

News >  WA Government

Wildfire recovery leaders express frustration to officials at roundtable

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 24, 2024

It has been one roadblock after another for residents of Medical Lake and Elk in the first five months of recovery from the Gray and Oregon Road fires, Dick Ziehnert told Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rogers and other officials during a roundtable Wednesday.

News >  Spokane

These were the top news stories for the Spokane area in 2023

Sun., Dec. 31, 2023

From staff reports