MEAD — As residents begin returning to their homes and properties following the Fairview Fire, community leaders gathered Monday night to address the difficult questions facing the Spokane area and outline a path forward for rebuilding.
The Union Event Center in Mead hosted representatives from multiple organizations, including local fire departments and the American Red Cross, to provide fire victims with information about available resources and recovery steps.
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels addressed one of the most pressing concerns for displaced residents: federal disaster assistance. He cautioned residents against expecting full financial support from the federal government.
“I don’t want you to come in and expect the federal government to write you a $350,000 check to help rebuild your house…they are not going to do it,” Nowels said.
Instead, officials emphasized the importance of working directly with insurance providers to ensure proper coverage and payouts. This guidance proved valuable for attendees like Jessica Rempel, an evacuee who attended the meeting to gather information.
“We went to the disaster relief center at Shadle Park High School to get some initial info and connect with our insurance company and things like that. we just thought it would be more helpful hearing this information in person,” Rempel said.
Matthew Vinci, Spokane Fire District 9 Chief, stressed that the goal of the meeting was to provide residents with concrete, actionable information they could take home and use immediately.
“You are going to come here and have tangible takeaways to be able to support you back home…this is personal for all of us here and we want to make sure that you get the answers to your questions…you get that conduit and that connection for those next steps…to get to a recovery,” Vinci said.
The meeting covered a range of topics, from major concerns like insurance claims to smaller but equally important safety considerations. Attendees emphasized the need for proper protective equipment when returning to properties to assess damage or clean up debris.
“Don’t play in the ashes. I know that sounds obvious, but don’t go sifting through stuff without protective equipment. and how to go about things safely as you start cleaning up has been really valuable,” Rempel said.
Community leaders made clear that Monday’s meeting was just the beginning of ongoing support efforts. Additional community meetings are scheduled throughout the week to ensure all fire-affected residents have opportunities to ask questions and receive answers.
“This is the place to come and get the answers that you need. connect you with those resources to make sure that you get everything that you need in this horrific event that we have all experienced,” Vinci said.
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