Wildfire, Smoke & Heat Waves · Grid-Down Guide

Wildfire: know your zone and your "Go"

In eastern Washington and north Idaho, wildfire season runs from about July through September. Fires can move fast, especially with wind.

Evacuation levels (Washington uses a three-level system):

Level	Means	Do this
Level 1 — Be Ready	Fire nearby	Pack the car, gather pets, monitor news. Leave now if you need extra time (kids, pets, livestock, medical needs).
Level 2 — Be Set	Significant danger	Be ready to leave at a moment's notice. Strongly consider going now.
Level 3 — Go Now	Danger is imminent	Leave immediately. Don't stop for belongings.

Know your evacuation zone and two ways out of your neighborhood.
Keep your go-bag in the car during fire season, and the tank at least half full.
Sign up for ALERT Spokane or your county's alert system.

Make your home harder to burn

Most homes ignite from embers, not the wall of flame.

Clear dead leaves and needles from roofs and gutters
Keep a 5-foot zone around the house free of anything that burns: bark mulch, firewood, dry plants, patio cushions
Move firewood piles at least 30 feet from the house during fire season
Screen attic and crawl-space vents with ⅛-inch metal mesh
Trim tree branches 6–10 feet off the ground, and away from the roof
Keep hoses connected and long enough to reach all sides of the house

Public Safety Power Shutoffs

During extreme fire weather (high wind, low humidity, dry fuels), utilities may turn off power on purpose to keep lines from starting fires. Avista and other Northwest utilities have shutoff programs for high-risk areas; check your utility's website to see if you're in one. These shutoffs can last a day or more after the wind dies down, while crews inspect lines.

Treat a red-flag forecast like a storm warning: charge batteries, freeze water, and have backup power ready for medical devices.

Wildfire smoke

Smoke can blanket the region for days or weeks, even from fires hundreds of miles away.

Check the air: AirNow.gov shows current air quality (AQI) by ZIP code.
Stay inside with windows and doors closed when AQI is unhealthy (151+), or above 101 for sensitive people (kids, older adults, pregnant people, anyone with heart or lung disease).
Make a clean room: pick one room, close it up, and run a HEPA air purifier.
DIY box-fan filter: tape a MERV-13 furnace filter to the back of a 20-inch box fan. It's a surprisingly effective, cheap air cleaner. Never leave it running unattended.
Masks: a well-fitted N95 blocks smoke particles. Cloth and surgical masks don't.
If your home has central air, set it to recirculate and use a high-MERV filter.

Heat waves

The June 2021 heat dome pushed Spokane to an all-time record of 109°F and caused rolling outages. Heat kills more Americans than any other weather.

Know where your cooling centers are (libraries, community centers)
Have battery fans, spray bottles and plenty of water
Use window coverings: reflective film or blinds on sunny windows
Check on older neighbors twice a day
Never leave kids or pets in a car — even for a minute

If the power goes out in a heat wave, see Staying cool for heat illness signs and first aid.

Sources: Ready.gov — Wildfires · Ready.gov — Extreme Heat · AirNow · EPA — Wildfire smoke and indoor air · NWS Spokane