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Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Aug. 6 declared a public health emergency for Washington state after massive wildfires in the Spokane area.
Kennedy said he spoke with Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and assured him that his department would work with state and local leaders to support frontline healthcare professionals and help communities affected.
“Today, I declared a Public Health Emergency for Washington State, giving hospitals and healthcare providers the flexibility they need to respond to these devastating wildfires and protect lives,” the health secretary said in a post on X.
“We stand with the people of Washington, and we will not let them face this crisis alone.”
Ferguson said on Aug. 6 that he had requested the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to declare a public health emergency for the state, saying the move would expedite access to medications and medical supplies, reduce paperwork, allow alternative care settings, and temporarily ease certain requirements and service limits.
The governor announced on Aug. 4 that the federal government had granted his request for an emergency declaration, authorizing federal partners to deploy personnel and resources to support the state’s response to the wildfires.
Ferguson said the declaration would provide local governments with federal assistance for search and rescue operations, food and water distribution, as well as the costs of evacuations and emergency shelters for residents displaced by the wildfires.
The emergency declaration does not cover aid for debris removal, the governor said.
It applies to six counties—Chelan, Ferry, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens, and Yakima—as well as the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and the Spokane Tribe of Indians, according to the governor’s office.
“I appreciate the federal government moving quickly and granting our request for this emergency declaration,” Ferguson said.
“We are laser-focused on getting assistance to those Washingtonians who have lost so much.”
The Spokane Complex Fire—which consists of three wildfires in Old Trails, Autumn Lane, and Fairview—has forced the evacuation of more than 64,000 people since they first broke out on Aug. 1. No injuries or fatalities have been reported so far.
More than 20 states and 100 jurisdictions have deployed resources to the Spokane area to help battle the fires.
“Firefighters are continuing with aggressive mop-up operations to strengthen containment lines around all three fires ahead of critical fire weather expected later this week and weekend,” the update stated.
A 37-year-old man, identified as Aaron F. Farinacci, was arrested on Aug. 3 for allegedly starting the Old Trails fire. Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels told reporters that Farinacci is currently being held on a $1 million bond, and that the suspect has a prior felony manslaughter conviction in Arizona.
