As multiple wildfires continue to burn across Spokane County and surrounding communities in eastern Washington, USA, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are opening their homes, assisting with evacuations and providing support to those affected.
“Local Church leaders are working closely together with Church headquarters to identify needs and provide both temporal and spiritual support,” the Church’s United States West Area Presidency said in a statement. “The Church has designated emergency response funds, and throughout the Inland Northwest, stakes are supporting trusted community organizations and nonprofits that are providing shelter, food and essential supplies.”
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Many Latter-day Saint families have evacuated, including members throughout the Spokane North Stake, which lies entirely within the evacuation zone. Some members of the Mt. Spokane Stake have also evacuated.
More than 10,000 acres have burned, hundreds of homes have been destroyed, and tens of thousands of residents remain under evacuation orders as firefighters continue working to contain the fast-moving fires.
Meetinghouses throughout the Church’s Spokane Coordinating Council are helping members displaced by the fires. Local leaders continue coordinating temporary housing, meals, pastoral care and other assistance as needs arise. The Church is also sending three semitrucks of relief supplies to Spokane, one carrying water and two carrying food.
Latter-day Saints have also opened their homes to displaced families and assisted with evacuation and relief efforts throughout the region. Among those serving is Karl Otterstrom, chief executive officer of the Spokane Transit Authority, who helped coordinate transportation and evacuation efforts, including the evacuation of patients from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, residents from Fairwood Retirement Village and wildfire evacuees relocated from Spokane Falls Community College to the Spokane Convention Center.
“We continue to pray for all those whose lives have been disrupted by these devastating fires,” said Ronald D. Hardy, president of the Spokane North Stake. “We are especially grateful for neighboring stake presidents and members who immediately opened their meetinghouses and communities to shelter displaced members and provide Christlike care during this difficult time.”
“We are grateful for the courageous efforts of first responders, volunteers and community leaders,” added the United States West Area Presidency. “We invite everyone to join us in prayer and in service.”
Church leaders encourage members to follow evacuation orders, remain informed through local emergency officials and continue seeking opportunities to minister to those in need.
The Church continues to coordinate with local emergency management and community officials as response and recovery efforts continue.
How to Help
Service opportunities are available through JustServe.org. Those wishing to make donations are encouraged to work through one of these established organizations: