Governor Expands Wildfire Emergency to 5 More Counties

Legacy automated check: the original source text was not preserved. These earlier verdicts have not passed the current publication checks and may contain errors. Source: original document ↗

• ✓
  Governor Bob Ferguson expanded the wildfire emergency proclamation to include Benton, Columbia, Grant, Kittitas, and Whitman counties“Today’s amendment adds Benton, Columbia, Grant, Kittitas and Whitman counties, bringing the total number counties covered by the state of emergency to 12, along with three Tribal Nations.”
• ✓
  The amendment extends state assistance programs and housing protections for 60 days until Sept. 30, 2026“The Governor’s amendment extends by 60 days:Eligibility for the State Individual Assistance Program, to assist with immediate needs such as food, temporary housing or other expenses. The Governor’s emergency proclamation makes everyone who lost their home eligible to receive this assistance, regardless of their household income or whether they have insurance.The Governor’s expansion of the Family Emergency Assistance Program to include families without children and allow families to access the program each month if needed. Additionally, the amendment extends two housing protections in Governor Ferguson’s proclamation until Sept. 30. Those provisions prohibit landlords from treating wildfire displacement as abandonment, or evicting tenants because they have taken in displaced individuals and pets due to the wildfires.”
• ✓
  The extension includes eligibility for the State Individual Assistance Program“Eligibility for the State Individual Assistance Program, to assist with immediate needs such as food, temporary housing or other expenses.”
• ✓
  The State Individual Assistance Program covers immediate needs like food and temporary housing“Eligibility for the State Individual Assistance Program, to assist with immediate needs such as food, temporary housing or other expenses.”
• ✓
  The State Individual Assistance Program is available regardless of income or insurance“The Governor’s emergency proclamation makes everyone who lost their home eligible to receive this assistance, regardless of their household income or whether they have insurance.”
• ✓
  The Family Emergency Assistance Program now includes families without children“The Governor’s expansion of the Family Emergency Assistance Program to include families without children and allow families to access the program each month if needed.”
• ✓
  Landlords cannot evict tenants displaced by wildfires“Those provisions prohibit landlords from treating wildfire displacement as abandonment, or evicting tenants because they have taken in displaced individuals and pets due to the wildfires.”
• ✓
  The proclamation waives fees for replacing lost documents like driver’s licenses and birth certificates“The Governor’s emergency proclamation requires that there is no charge for Washingtonians who lost their documents due to wildfires to obtain new copies of personal documents through the Department of Health and the Department of Licensing.”
• ✓
  Residents in the added counties can access free document replacements at any driver licensing office“You can visit any driver licensing office statewide for free replacements of driver's licenses, ID cards, and other Department of Licensing records lost in the fires.”
• ✓
  Residents in the added counties receive extended time to renew business licenses“The Governor’s emergency proclamation enables the Department of Licensing to grant extra time for people to renew their business and professional licenses. This includes licenses for cosmetology, notaries, real estate, security guards, and numerous othe”
• ✓
  The Governor’s initial proclamation on Aug. 1, 2026, established statewide burning restrictions through Sept. 30“Governor Ferguson first declared a statewide wildfire emergency on the morning of Saturday, Aug. 1. The proclamation includes a statewide prohibition on most outdoor and agricultural burning through September 30, 2026.”
• ⚠
  The Governor’s initial proclamation activated mutual aid resourcesNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.