Property owners
must hire an
AHERA-certified building inspector to conduct an asbestos survey of the debris/ash
Asbestos Guidance for Property Owners
As a property owner of a structure(s) damaged or destroyed in the August 2026 Spokane Complex Fire, this page is to assist you in navigating the asbestos requirements. If you don’t find what you are looking for, please let us know.
On September 16, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it completed the household hazard material removal, funded by FEMA at the request of the State of Washington. According to EPA, they cleared 789 accessible impacted properties, removing more than 195,000 pounds of hazardous waste. EPA has not received funding to survey debris and ash for asbestos, or to remove the debris. Therefore, property owners are responsible for taking the steps outlined below.
Required Steps Before Removing Debris, Ash
Property owners of wildfire-damaged or destroyed structures must:
1) Obtain an Asbestos Survey of the debris and ash that remains from the burned structures (house, detached garage, outbuildings.) The survey must be conducted by an AHERA-certified building inspector. A list of asbestos service providers is here and be sure to get multiple quotes. While you are waiting for the survey to be completed, it is important that no one (you, volunteers, nonprofits, private companies) moves or removes the surveyed debris.
A negative asbestos survey allows for the removal and disposal of the debris by the property owner or by a hired contractor licensed in Washington. You or your contractor must file a Notice of Intent (NOI) with Spokane Clean Air (see step 2, below). A copy of the survey must accompany the waste, which will be accepted at Graham Road Landfill, or the Valley or Northside Transfer Stations. No ash is being accepted at the Waste-to-Energy Facility.
A positive asbestos survey requires removal (abatement) and disposal of the asbestos-containing ash/debris by a Washington Certified Asbestos Abatement Company. A Notice of Intent (NOI) must be filed by the abatement company you hire before they begin their work. Graham Road Landfill accepts properly contained and labeled asbestos-containing debris (your certified abatement contractor will know these details).
2) File a Notice of Intent (NOI) with Spokane Clean Air
If the asbestos survey is negative, the property owner (or their contractor) files the NOI. If the survey is positive, the asbestos abatement company hired to do the abatement files the NOI prior to starting work. Please coordinate with your contractor(s) to avoid duplicate NOI filings.
A copy of the NOI is required by the City and County before they will issue the demolition/rebuild permit. Spokane Clean Air is waiving the NOI fees and waiting periods for those affected by the fires. FILE YOUR NOI ONLINE HERE
Need further assistance? Please contact either of the following staff if you have any questions:
Deirdre Fitzgerald
Desk: 509-477-4727, extension #108
Mobile: 509-863-8227
Email: DFitzgerald@spokanecleanair.org
Clayton Krietzman
Desk: 509-477-4727, extension #124
Mobile: 509-863-2011
Email: CKrietzman@spokanecleanair.org
Links to other resources:
- City of Spokane Rebuilding after the Wildfire webpage
- Spokane County’s Fire Demolition and Rebuilding FAQs
- Spokane Complex Fire Asbestos Fact Sheet
- FAQs for the Spokane Complex Fire (a more detailed document includes safety tips when returning to your property)
Why should I be concerned about asbestos?
Asbestos is classified as a hazardous air pollutant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. There is no known safe level of exposure to asbestos fibers. When structures containing asbestos are damaged or destroyed, asbestos fibers are released. When inhaled, fibers become lodged in the lungs and remain there throughout life. Fibers can accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation and lead to serious conditions including lung cancer and mesothelioma.