Spokane Wildfires: What to Do About Your Insurance Claim After the Autumn Lane, Old Trails & Fairview Fires

Wildfires burning across Spokane and Stevens counties have forced evacuations and threatened homes and businesses around the region. As of this writing, three fires are being tracked in the area:

• Autumn Lane Fire — northwest of Spokane near Suncrest, North Indian Trail, and the Nine Mile area
• Old Trails Fire — west of the city around Seven Mile, Five Mile Prairie, and Highland
• Fairview Fire — north of Spokane near Mead and the Country Homes / Town and Country area

Conditions are changing quickly. Your safety comes first — always follow evacuation and re-entry orders from local authorities and Spokane County Emergency Management. Once you are safe and cleared to return, the steps below will help protect your property insurance claim.

1. Document everything before you touch it

Before you clean up, move, or throw anything away, photograph and video all of the damage — the structure, the contents, and even smoke and soot on surfaces that look salvageable. Keep receipts for anything you spend on temporary lodging, food, and emergency repairs. This documentation is the foundation of your claim.

2. Report the loss — but don't settle alone

Notify your insurance company that you've had a loss. But understand this: the adjuster your insurer sends works for the insurance company, not for you. Their job is to close your claim efficiently — which often means the first offer doesn't reflect what it actually costs to repair or rebuild. Smoke and soot damage in particular is frequently underpaid.

3. Know what your policy should cover

Most homeowner and commercial policies cover:

• Fire and smoke damage to the structure
• Damage to and loss of your contents (furniture, belongings, inventory)
• Additional living expenses (loss of use) — hotel, meals, and other costs while you're displaced

If you're being told something isn't covered, get a second opinion before you accept that answer.

4. Consider a public adjuster — before you accept an offer

A public adjuster works only for you. At Apex Adjusting Group, we document the full extent of the fire, smoke, and structural damage, value your contents and loss of use, and negotiate directly with your insurer so your settlement reflects the real cost of recovery. We work on contingency — no recovery, no fee — so there's no upfront cost to get expert help on your side.

The earlier we're involved, the more we can document and protect. If you've been affected by the Autumn Lane, Old Trails, or Fairview fire, get a free claim review or call us at (509) 351-4388.

Serving Spokane and the surrounding region

We help property owners across the City of Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Cheney, Airway Heights, Medical Lake, Deer Park, and the surrounding communities in Spokane County and North Idaho, including Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene. Learn more on our Spokane public adjusters page.

Affected by the Spokane-area fires? Don't face the insurance company alone. Call (509) 351-4388 for a free, no-obligation claim review — no recovery, no fee.