2026 Eastern Washington Wildfires Recovery

At the request of the State of Washington, EPA has been assigned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to survey, remove, and dispose of household hazardous materials from properties burned by wildfires in Spokane County.

Hazardous materials removal

EPA will remove potentially dangerous everyday products like:

Paint
Cleaners and solvents
Oils
Batteries
Pesticides

After a fire, these products require special handling, especially if their containers are damaged.

This work will be done at no cost to residents.

Lithium-ion batteries

EPA will remove lithium-ion batteries from vehicles, homes, and other products. These batteries should be considered extremely dangerous, even if they look intact. Lithium batteries can spontaneously re-ignite, explode, and emit toxic gases and particulates even after the fire is out.

Frequent questions

How will EPA remove household hazardous materials from my property?

An EPA-led team will survey your property for safe working conditions. A second EPA-led team will remove household hazardous materials. EPA will only remove household hazardous materials. If valuables are found, we will stop our work and contact local law enforcement for handling. This includes functional firearms.

Why are household hazardous materials removed?

After a fire, these products require special handling, especially if their containers are damaged. These materials must be safely removed and disposed of.

Do I need to give the EPA permission to enter my property?

No. The Spokane County Public Health Official granted EPA authority on August 10, 2026, to access properties. There are no additional steps that homeowners need to take for this work to proceed. For people who want to opt-out, you may get information at Spokane Complex Wildfire Response Resources.

Is EPA doing asbestos abatement?

No. However, EPA field teams will also remove items thought to have asbestos if they are easy to identify. You will still have to obtain an asbestos survey and dispose of properly as explained on the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency’s website.

Will EPA remove fire ash and other debris?

EPA’s mission does not include removal of fire ash and other debris. For further information about debris removal assistance, please visit Spokane Complex Wildfire Response Resources.

For more information

For questions about EPA's hazardous materials removal, please contact region10@epa.gov.

For media inquiries, please contact R10_Press_Team@epa.gov.

For more information about how to reduce smoke exposure and protect your health during wildland fire smoke events, visit EPA's Wildfires website.