The meeting quickly descended into heated exchanges. Residents expressed deep concerns about the environmental and economic implications of bringing large-scale data operations to the area.

Residents questioned the long-term effects of data center development on Spokane County's natural landscape. One attendee drew a stark comparison to illustrate their frustration with the county's approach, saying: "We are under siege...and you are offering to load the catapults with food...and throwing it over the wall!"

"The primary concern should be what are we leeching into the soil, the water, the air, the environment in general? Are we scaring away animals that use this as a mating ground with a large amount of noise?"

These questions reflect broader anxieties about how industrial data center operations could alter Spokane County's ecosystem and quality of life for residents who depend on the region's natural resources and wildlife habitats.

On August 18, the Spokane County Commission unanimously approved a moratorium on all land use and permit applications related to new data centers. The pause extends through December 15, providing commissioners time to assess community sentiment and develop appropriate building guidelines.

During this interim period, county officials plan to hold multiple public meetings to gather input from residents, businesses, and other stakeholders. Wednesday's meeting represented one of several forums designed to ensure the community's voice shapes the county's data center policy moving forward.

The commissioners will reconvene to evaluate the moratorium at their next scheduled meeting on September 15th.

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The fire was last reported as 2 acres in size according to Spokane Fire District 3.

LEVEL 3 (GO NOW) Evacuations:

West to 29209 W Tucker Prairie, East to S Hunter Rd, North to Tucker Prairie, South to South end of both Jackie Rd and Hunter Rd

LEVEL 2 (GET SET):

North to end of S Ben Apple Rd and 13811 S Stangland, East to intersection of Stangland Rd and W tucker Prairie RD.

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In a press release, the company says it will provide $100,000 to four Spokane organizations, with each getting $25,000. An additional $50,000 will support wildfire response and recovery efforts in Northeast Washington, "with a focus on communities in and around Colville, Kettle Falls and the Colville tribal communities." It'll also match employee donations up to $50,000.

“The flames might be contained, but recovery from these wildfires is far from over,” said Mark Mitchke, CEO of Delta Dental of Washington. “We have about 400 employees who live and work in Spokane and Colville, and these communities are part of our Delta Dental family. We want to stand alongside our employees and their neighbors by supporting organizations who are providing critical assistance and recovery efforts.”

According to the press release, the $100,000 for Spokane will go to:

American Red Cross

H.O.M.E. Starts Here

Second Harvest Inland Northwest

World Central Kitchen

Delta Dental of Washington is also sending along 1,000 dental health kits, containing toothbrushes and dental floss for displaced families.

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It is a three-day celebration with whiskey, food, live entertainment and lakeside experiences.

This year, guests will also get a first taste from Azul, the resort’s newest dining experience opening May of 2027 in the Sherman Tower.

Guests can choose individual event tickets or make a weekend of it with All-Access Passes and overnight packages.

Tickets, packages and additional event details can be found at this website.

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Now, as developers propose hundreds of new housing units in and around the affected areas, some people who live nearby are asking: what happens the next time a fire forces an evacuation?

Allison Mohr and her husband Jim Davis experienced the evacuation firsthand when they were forced to leave their home in the Indian Trail neighborhood. Like thousands of others, they found themselves stuck in gridlock on Indian Trail Road, a bottleneck that turned a dangerous situation into a terrifying one. The pair eventually deciding to wait at home until the traffic had cleared.

"Shock. Disbelief? Yeah. Fear. Yeah. Because, you know, people burn to death in their cars in and Pacific. And that was running through my mind a lot," Mohr said.

The couple's concerns intensified when they learned about a proposed development at Excelsior Wellness could bring up to 300 new residential units to the area. Excelsior has clarified that the official number of units hasn't been finalized yet, and the project remains in the early planning stages. A separate development planned just off Nine Mile Road would bring more than 400 homes to the area. The couple worries adding hundreds more residents — and the vehicles that come with them — would only worsen evacuation gridlock if another fire strikes.

"We're going to have more fires. Climate change is real. There's no question about it. And it's unconscionable that they will allow this building without corresponding investments in infrastructure," Davis said.

The infrastructure gaps residents are concerned about include wider roads with additional lanes to handle increased traffic during emergencies. Similar concerns have surfaced around other housing projects throughout the county.

Neighbors worry that hundreds of additional vehicles would funnel onto Highway 291 during an evacuation, potentially creating the same dangerous congestion that occurred during the recent fires.

Despite these concerns, both the City of Spokane and Spokane County officials worked to reassure the community that evacuation preparedness is not being overlooked. Both entities confirmed that emergency evacuation scenarios are considered when new housing developments are proposed, and that there are rules in place about how many access roads are required depending on the size of development.

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Beck's Harvest House and the Greater Spokane Food Trucks Association are partnering to host "Stuffed on the Bluff" from Sept. 5-7.

The festival will feature 14 food vendors each day, along with live performances from local musicians. All participating food vendors and performers are from the Inland Northwest.

Food options will include barbecue, gourmet grilled cheese, Jamaican cuisine, tacos, doughnuts, ice cream, kettle corn and more.

The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day at Beck's Harvest House, 9919 E. Greenbluff Road. Parking is free.

For more information, visit stuffedonthebluff.com.

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During a meeting with CHAS Health, Murray discussed how the organization assisted evacuated families during the fires. CHAS reports that 15 of its employees lost homes to the firestorm. Afterward, the Senator said fire prevention is one priority for her.

"Prevention is a huge part of it. We've made some progress in that direction, but obviously, we need to do more. Because, as every firefighter has told me, it's no longer a 'fire season', it's a 'fire year'," Murray said.

Senator Murray identified forest management as another focus she plans to take to the federal government. She expressed concern about the reduction in federal funding for scientific research that could help communities better understand and prepare for future firestorms.

"It's a number of things. One of it, is forest management. Obviously, we have to be doing everything we can learn as much as we can. I am worried about a number of the federal resources that have gone away from scientific research. That will help give us that knowledge," Murray said.

The Senator also met with fire chiefs to discuss grant programs that help departments replace aging fire engines and maintain communication systems.

"Fire chiefs that I talked to today are very concerned about a number of the grant programs that help them replace fire engines and, and have the right kind of communication available," Murray said.

Senator Murray also raised alarm about staffing shortages in firefighting agencies.

"One of the things I am most concerned about is under this administration, a number of the fire personnel have been let go and have making sure that we have the number of people available to fight fires," Murray said.

Among those affected by the fires is Devon Traylor, an employee at CHAS Health who lost his home. Despite his loss, Traylor continued to help at the Shadle Resource Center.

"In 30 minutes, the fire had reached across the street to where I lived...and I just opened my garage...and there was smoke and fire and flames," Traylor said.

Murray said she plans to follow up with the Trump administration after Governor Bob Ferguson requests a major disaster declaration. If approved, it would help fire victims in the long term by receiving money to rebuild.

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Second Harvest and Excelsior Wellness have partnered to distribute essential items just blocks away from where the Old Trails Fire devastated entire neighborhoods in Indian Trail. The organizations have stationed themselves in front of the Excelsior building each day for the past week, offering support to those affected by the disaster.

Demetrius Palmer, director of external relations for Excelsior, said the experience has been moving for staff members witnessing the impact on families.

"Some families come up and they're hesitant, some come up and they're so thankful they're moved to tears," Palmer said. "We've ran into a few families that have come and shared their experience with their insurance and what they're going through."

The distribution effort extends beyond fire victims. The supplies are available to anyone in the community who needs assistance.

For families unable to visit during the daily distribution events, Excelsior maintains its care center open on weekdays, providing ongoing access to resources. The center serves all community members, regardless of whether they receive mental health services from Excelsior.

Tyunna Nielson, a single mother of five, evacuated her family during the fires but was fortunate to keep her home. She visited Excelsior's care center for the first time today seeking assistance for her family.

"I saw that they were bringing in aid for people that were in need, obviously I'm in need, I'm a single mom of five kids," Nielson said. "That's what brought me in to get the help."

The variety of available items at the care center made a tangible difference for Nielson's family, allowing her to find multiple items for each of her children rather than rationing supplies.

"It was nice to be able to find a couple things for each of my kids," Nielson said. "Instead of normally we can only find one thing for this child or a couple things for this child. So it's nice to be able to have a variety of ages that you can come and shop for."

The partnership between Second Harvest and Excelsior Wellness reflects a broader community response to the fire's aftermath. While immediate relief through food and clothing distribution addresses urgent needs, the organizations are also considering long-term support for affected families.

Excelsior is actively seeking donations of clothes and shelf-stable foods to sustain relief efforts as recovery continues. Community members interested in supporting fire survivors can contribute items to help stock the distribution centers and care facility.

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Teams have been moving from burned home to burned home, checking for hazardous materials, bagging them and transporting them to the Spokane County North Transfer Station. Since many of the homes are close together, crews have been able to move between them easily.

"This really is the first step that needs to happen before a lot of other things for rebuilding," said Emma Pokon, EPA Region 10 administrator.

Pokon said the accelerated timeline stems from an emergency order issued by the Spokane Regional Health District, which granted EPA crews automatic access to properties without requiring homeowner permission. Only single-digit numbers of homeowners have opted out.

"We're providing a free service to the community, and it's reducing the risk for people returning and wanting to rebuild. So I think it's a good sign," Pokon said.

Homeowners whose properties have been cleared will see a posted sign in their yard indicating the completion of hazardous materials removal.

Pokon said common hazardous materials found in fire-damaged homes include propane tanks, fertilizer and lithium batteries.

The EPA has 14 crews working in the Old Trails Fire area, though that number may decrease as the project nears completion. The agency will also clear homes in the Autumn Lane and Fairview Fire areas, but it doesn't know which one it'll work on next.

While the EPA does not have a specific completion date, Pokon thinks the project will finish ahead of the original 60-day timeline.

"I think we want to make the recovery effort go as smoothly as it can in where we have a role," Pokon said. "So, we want to make it safer for the next crews that are coming through that might be doing some form of cleanup."

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For every regular home game during the 2026-2027 season, three passes are available for reservation. Each pass includes four tickets for families and friends. Cardholders can reserve one pass per year, up to 60 days before each game.

"The Spokane Chiefs are incredibly excited to partner with Spokane Public Library and join the Museum and Culture Pass Program," said Alex Costanzo, director of marketing and public relations for the Spokane Chiefs. "We are thankful to the Library Foundation for purchasing Spokane Chiefs season tickets and making them available for library card holders and their families to attend Chiefs games throughout the upcoming season."

The program removes financial barriers to local entertainment during a time when rising costs challenge many residents. The Spokane Chiefs passes join other available passes including the Spokane Symphony, Spokane Velocity FC, Spokane Civic Theatre, the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, Mobius Discovery Center, and Cat Tales Wildlife Center.

The season home opener is September 26 against the Tri-City Americans. Library cardholders can reserve passes through the Spokane Public Library website.

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