City to provide asbestos testing, host community resource meetings

City to provide asbestos testing, host community resource meetings

Erin Hut, Communications Director, [email protected]

Friday, October 9, 2026 at 4:04 p.m.

The City of Spokane will provide asbestos surveying at no cost to fire-affected residents where asbestos survey services are not provided through their home insurance, upon approval of a resolution by City Council on Wednesday, October 14. The City secured authorization from the Washington State Department of Commerce to support residents with obtaining and paying for asbestos testing using Wildfire Housing Assistance Funds.

Owners of fire-affected properties from the Old Trails Fire can fill out this form to request asbestos surveying at no cost. Residents who have already conducted an asbestos test not covered by insurance are also asked to fill out the form for retroactive payment up to $1,600.

The City will hold two community resource events in the coming weeks to assist individuals and families with this process, in addition to other rebuilding and recovery efforts.

City staff, alongside community partners, will be available to answer questions and guide residents on:

• Wildfire housing assistance

• Asbestos surveying

• Regulatory flexibility for residential rebuilding

• Temporary housing on fire-affected properties during rebuild

• Free second opinions on contracting and other development quotes

The first community resource event will be held October 13 at 6 p.m. at Flett Middle School (5020 W Wellesley Ave), with the second event happening October 28 at 6 p.m. at Salk Middle School (6411 N Alberta).

"Navigating the rebuilding process can be difficult and overwhelming, but the City of Spokane is here to help. We hope these events will help our impacted families with their next steps and provide relief through the recovery process," Mayor Lisa Brown said.

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