Protecting Spokane from Fire Risks

Lithium-ion safety and wildfire awareness made local

By Taylor Shillam 

This fall, the Spokane Fire Department is focusing on helping the community protect homes and properties from fire risk. Alongside its ongoing wildfire education programs, the department will highlight lithium-ion battery safety in honor of Fire Prevention Week this October.

“Fire departments across the country are educating their communities about lithium-ion batteries,” says Jamie McIntyre, Community Risk Reduction Manager. “They are everywhere in our lives, and doing the right things at a couple of key places can make a huge difference.”

Lithium-ion battery fires are not only a national issue but a local one, according to Justin de Rutyer, Information Officer for the Spokane Fire Department. He explains that a battery’s life has three parts: its purchase, storage and maintenance in the home, and disposal. “Most of the problems arise in the home storage and maintenance phase—related to charging and use around the home—as well as choosing the right battery,” Justin says.

To support safe practices, the department has partnered with Battery Smart Spokane, a regional resource that helps consumers learn how to charge, store, and dispose of batteries properly. “Battery Smart Spokane is a website that regional partners put together to share guidance on buying the right battery, storing it correctly, and safe charging,” Justin notes. More information is available at BatterySmartSpokane.com.

Beyond Fire Prevention Week, wildfire education and prevention continue to be top priorities for the Spokane Fire Department. They regularly partner with neighborhoods across Spokane to provide training, education, and outreach on wildfire safety.

“Since the Los Angeles fires this spring, we’ve been promoting the idea of protecting homes from embers that can travel into urban areas,” Justin says, recognizing that wildfires can still be a threat to inner city and urban interface areas.

Embers carried on strong winds can ignite fires inside city neighborhoods even when wildfires are burning miles away. “A big thing we’ve started to notice—dating back to the Los Angeles fires and even before—is that embers are being carried in by winds and landing inside city establishments,” Justin says.

To address this, the department partners with Wildfire Ready Neighbors, a statewide initiative that encourages residents to work together to reduce fire risks. The program offers free Wildfire Ready Plans, consultations from local experts, and step-by-step guidance for protecting homes and properties.

“The ember threat is real,” Justin emphasizes. “We face the same risks Los Angeles did, but here it’s only a couple of days a year when the winds align that way.” Even so, small, simple steps—such as cleaning out gutters—can significantly reduce the risk of ignition. “A common source of fire starts in the gutters of homes,” Justin explains.

The Spokane Fire Department’s ongoing prevention work underscores a simple truth: protecting homes and neighborhoods from fire is a community-wide effort. With resources like Battery Smart Spokane and Wildfire Ready Neighbors, residents have the tools to prepare, prevent, and protect.

For more information on wildfire readiness, visit WildFireReady.dnr.wa.gov.

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