EPA and local towing company helping remove burned vehicles

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Environmental Protection Agency is beginning to mark cars destroyed in the Spokane Area fires so they can either be tested for hazardous materials or removed and taken to the dump.

EPA crews are using a color-coded marking system to communicate the condition of each burned vehicle. An X marked on the hood indicates the vehicle can be safely removed. A white O means the car still requires testing for hazardous materials before it can be moved.

Todd Henry and his wife Desiree run 777 Towing, a company operating out of their home that has stepped in to help fire victims by offering towing services at no cost. Wednesday, the Henrys removed six burned vehicles from a single property.

“It’s really no one’s fault that you know everyone lost everything. So, I mean if I was in the same position I would, you know, hope somebody would do it for us. So, we’re trying to give back as much as we can,” Todd Henry said.

Homeowner Patrick Keegan expressed gratitude for the assistance, noting that the free removal service allows him to focus on other priorities during the recovery process.

“They’re going to get these all out of my hair so I can get to my doctors appointment and um it’s really just a really good thing for the community,” Keegan said.

The Henrys’ commitment to helping their community extends beyond their immediate circle. Their friend Tim Gillen, who lost his own home in the fires, traveled all the way from Alaska to assist with the removal efforts.

“You’re so lost when this happens because you don’t have anywhere to be, all your stuffs gone. All you have left is your memories. So, as soon as they asked me if I’d come help, I said yes. I was just, there’s no way I couldn’t,” Gillen said.

The Henrys emphasizes that people should not attempt to move damaged cars on their own. Burned vehicles may contain hazardous materials or structural damage that makes them unsafe to transport without professional equipment and expertise.