Homeowners impacted by Spokane fires await help as state seeks federal funds

SPOKANE, Wash. — Families who lost their homes in the Spokane area fires are another step closer to getting help from the federal government.

The state submitted a major disaster declaration request on Monday. If that gets approved, it could unlock over $11 million for people who lost everything this summer.

Governor Bob Ferguson spoke about the request at a press conference in Spokane on Monday, alongside other officials and three homeowners. Those homeowners all said federal funds would help them recover.

Breanne Kamerer’s home is still standing, but it’s damaged badly enough that she and her children cannot live there, which she says has been a significant financial and emotional burden.

“As a single mother, my No. 1 jobs is to protect my kids and provide them with a safe place to live,” Kamerer said. “We have a roof over our heads, and we have a safe place to sleep. But our home no longer feels safe, and there is so much unpredictability with what’s next.”

The money from the major disaster declaration, if approved, would be mostly used for people who are uninsured or under-insured. FEMA would decide how much each family gets.

“We’re in for the long haul on this,” Ferguson said. “This is going to take a long time to dig out from this and to get folks the help that they need.”

It is now up to President Donald Trump to approve the request. Ferguson estimated it could be about seven weeks or fewer for that to happen.

For homeowners, the help can’t come soon enough.

“The faster we can move in the cleanup process and the rebuilding process in our neighborhood and our community, the faster we’ll be able to put our lives back together,” said Adam Morrison, who lost his home in the fire.

The state is also making changes to help people rebuild faster, including more flexible building codes and tax rebates.

On top of individual assistance for people who lost their homes, the state is also asking for an estimated $117 million in public assistance. That money would go to local governments and help pay for costs like debris removal and door-to-door evacuations.