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Responding to the Spokane Area Wildfires

On the afternoon of August 1, 2026, a series of wildfires broke out across the Spokane area, and within days, hundreds of homes and lives were forever changed. The Old Trails Fire, the Autumn Lane Fire, and the Fairview Fire all ignited within hours of each other. First responders mobilized immediately, but a “particularly dangerous situation” alert for red flag conditions on Saturday allowed the fires to grow rapidly to thousands of acres. Crews worked through the night to protect homes and evacuate residents as the fires spread.

Roughly a week later, the Spokane Area Fires have burned a reported 10,436 acres and confirmed 630 damaged structures including residences. While containment continues to increase, the road to recovery for affected families, congregations, and communities is only beginning.

In moments like these, the strength of our connection matters. Your prayers, your presence, and your gifts make it possible for the PNW Conference to walk alongside those who have lost so much, now and in the months and years of rebuilding ahead. 

We invite you to respond with urgency and generosity by supporting the Pacific Northwest Conference Disaster Fund (Advance #352) or the UMCOR Advance #901670. Gifts to these funds help provide immediate assistance to evacuees and survivors, as well as prepare for continued response, including the possible deployment of Early Response Teams as conditions allow.

In addition to your prayers, your gifts are a tangible way to embody our hope, compassion, and love for our neighbors in need. Churches may wish to receive a special offering during worship, or encourage individual and household giving.

You can give online at https://pnwumc.org/wildfireresponse, or make an offline gift through your local church or by mailing a check made payable to the PNW Conference Treasurer, with Conference Advance #352 noted on the memo line, to:

Pacific Northwest Conference Office
c/o Conference Treasurer
P.O. Box 13650
Des Moines, WA 98198

Thank you for being the church—present, responsive, and grounded in Christ’s love—when it matters most.

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