Communities band together to help Spokane residents displaced by Spokane-area fires

By James Tabafunda
NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Three fast-moving blazes affected Spokane County, and a diverse coalition of communities have come together to provide financial assistance. The Old Trails, Autumn Lane, and Fairview fires, which began Aug. 1, were managed together as the Spokane Area Fires. About 67,000 people were ordered to evacuate two days later.

This photo provided by Spokane Fire District 9 shows the Upriver Fire burning northeast of Spokane, Wash., on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (Robert Gray/Spokane Fire District 9 via AP)

Organizers say a committee, led by Publisher Emeritus of Northwest Asian Weekly and Rotary Club of Seattle Member Assunta Ng, is planning the Spokane Fire Relief Fundraiser (SFRF) on Sept. 22, at 2 p.m., at Diamond Bay Restaurant. Promotional materials for the event state: “Together, we can make a difference and help Spokane recover and rebuild.”

SFRF committee member runs the events

Cindy Wong, deputy chief of staff at the Seattle Police Department and a participant in the Chinatown-International District Public Safety Council, said each $100 ticket is for the SFRF, with $40 going to the restaurant.

“Every ticket includes an immediate $60 donation,” she said.

Wong, who serves on the SFRF planning committee, said she has worked with Julie Kelsey, a past president of the Rotary Club of Spokane #21, to ensure Spokane residents’ needs remain part of the discussion. Kelsey will discuss her club’s wildfire-relief work and its efforts to assist their neighbors.

“I run the events, and I make sure that they go smoothly,” Wong said.

About 67,000 people were under evacuation orders by Aug. 3 after the Spokane-area fires began. All Spokane County wildfire evacuation levels were lifted Aug. 11, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said.

Wong has friends in Spokane and had seen them about two weeks earlier.

“Every year, there is a fire for different reasons,” she said. “But because this was started by an arson, it was even more tragic.”

Authorities charged Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, with first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, one of three fires in the Spokane area. The Autumn Lane and Fairview fires were also considered human-caused, but investigators had not confirmed they were deliberately set.

“They’re still very open to getting support to rebuild,” Wong said.

She says it’s important to remember how fragile life is and support each other.

“It’s important how we support each other through these tough times,” Wong said. “It’s not just from the Chinese community. We’re bringing all communities together to show our support for people.”

SFRF committee member is from the Tri-Cities

Nate Miles, president of the Men’s Ministry at Mount Zion Baptist Church and a former vice president for strategic initiatives, state governmental affairs at Eli Lilly and Company, said Ng’s proposal to support Spokane residents displaced by the wildfires appealed to him.

“Assunta is always wanting to do something,” he said. “I thought it sounded like a good deal. This made a lot of sense to me.”

Miles, who was raised in Pasco—about 135 miles southwest of Spokane—said eastern Washington communities share a sense of camaraderie.

“Eastern Washington has this attitude that we’re all in this thing together,” he said. “We pull together.”

Miles said he began thinking about the destruction caused by the August wildfires. “You start praying for those people who are losing their homes and their livelihood. When you don’t get a chance to get your stuff out of the house, you think about when you move, how long it takes you to move, and you’ve got to sort through stuff … These guys didn’t have an opportunity to do that. Your house is just gone.”

The wildfires destroyed or damaged at least 833 structures, many of them single-family houses.

Miriam Sim, 76, looks on at the remains of her burned house destroyed after a wildfire hit the northern part of Spokane, Wash., Monday, Aug. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

As a member of the planning committee, Miles said he brings experience in building relationships and raising money. He described the response from donors he’s asked as “actually pretty good.”

“People saw what was happening, and they think about… how it easily could have been them,” Miles said.

“Fundraising is something that’s in the blood,” he said. “Whether it’s church organizations or community-based organizations, that’s just something that I’ve always done.”

“Everybody can help,” he said. “Every dollar that they spend in donations will go to help… people rebuild their lives. Those are things that can really be done and can really make a difference because those people have to have temporary housing.”

SFRF’s live auction and its auctioneer

Wong identified an event commonly featured in other fundraisers.

“We’ll have an auction,” she said. “We’ll have a few auction items as well.”

John Steckler, president of the Rotary Club of Seattle and a Mill Creek city councilmember, said he will serve as auctioneer for the SFRF.

Zoom screenshot of John Steckler, president of the Rotary Club of Seattle and a Mill Creek city councilmember

“I’m an auctioneer for nonprofits to raise money,” Steckler said. “And so I love doing auctions.”

Organizers said proceeds will be part of the Spokane County Wildfire Fund, which is administered by Rotary Community Service, Inc., the nonprofit arm of the Rotary Club of Spokane #21. The fund provides direct, flexible financial support to those displaced by the wildfires.

“You want to help out other clubs that really need it, and they need our help,” he said. “So yeah, when a Rotarian calls, you answer.”

SFRF committee member contacts prospective donors

Tony Au, president of the Washington State Sino-U.S. Trade Alliance and a longtime Central District community leader, said he had been considering a fundraiser for Spokane residents displaced by the wildfires when Ng called to ask if he would help organize one.

Tony Au, president of the Washington State Sino-U.S. Trade Alliance and a longtime Central District community leader (Photo by James Tabafunda)

“I’d love to do it,” he told Ng. “I would be honored.”

Like Miles, Au said he has contacted prospective donors and invited them to attend the SFRF and contribute to recovery efforts.

He said the response has been encouraging. One person returned his call within about 20 minutes and pledged $5,000.

“A lot of people donate $500,” Au said. “It is important to raise awareness and let people know there is hope as more donations go to this. We really want to help the victims.”

“Give whatever you want to give,” he tells potential donors. “There is no obligation. It’s from your heart.”

Au said fundraising can be difficult amid layoffs and an economy that is not doing well, but he said donors have responded.

“It goes to Rotary in Spokane directly, so there’s less politics, and it goes and helps the victims,” Au said. “That’s the goal.”

SFRF committee member names the true tragedy

Mercer Island City Councilmember Julie Hsieh said Ng and Au asked her to join the planning committee. Hsieh also serves as a board member of the Rotary Club of Mercer Island.

She said she was grateful for the opportunity.

“Like everyone else in our state, I think the whole world saw devastating images of what happened over the summer with the Spokane fires,” she said. “I just want to help them, and this is a great way to help them.”

The fires intensified concerns about the availability of affordable housing in the Spokane area, where officials were working to find temporary and longer-term housing for people unable to return to destroyed or damaged houses. The disaster added pressure to an already low supply of lower-cost housing.

“I just had a meeting with a group of people from the Mercer Island Chamber (of Commerce),” Hsieh said. “They’re local businesses. There is definitely an affordability crisis in our state for housing. And now, with the devastation from this horrific fire, there are people who are homeless overnight.”

“I’ve already gotten a table of people together to support this event, and I know Tony and Assunta have already been able to get donations from community members,” she said.