President Donald J. Trump Approves Emergency Declaration for Washington

WASHINGTON -- FEMA announced today that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of Washington to supplement response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from wildfires beginning Aug. 1, 2026, and continuing.

The President's action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all federal disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population and to provide appropriate assistance to save lives, to protect property, public health and safety and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe.

This assistance is for Chelan, Ferry, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens and Yakima counties and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and Spokane Tribe of Indians.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impact of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program, will be provided at 75% federal funding.

John F. Harrison has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal response operations in the affected areas. Designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.