Spokane wildfire evacuees return home, but it's 'still a hazmat situation'

Melissa and Christopher Matthews in front of the remains of their home in Spokane on August 14, 2026. The Spokane Complex fires torched more than 900 structures. Margaret Albaugh for NPR hide caption SPOKANE, Wash. — Just weeks after wildfires destroyed hundreds of homes in some of the worst blazes in Washington state history, most evacuees have been allowed to return to the burn zones in and around Spokane. But there are mounting questions about whether it's safe yet. "It is a very challenging thing," says Sarah Nuss, the city's director of emergency management. "While folks are allowed to go back into those areas there is still a hazmat situation going on. The burned houses and damaged places are going to have things like lithium ion batteries, hazardous chemicals." Before any rebuilding can begin, wildfire recovery starts with the dirty work of removing all the toxic debris left behind, which can also include lead paint siding, exploded propane tanks and other potentially dangerous hazards that litter the burn zone.

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