Earlier this month, the Spokane Complex Fires ripped through neighborhoods in the city, damaging more than 800 structures and forcing the evacuation of an estimated 65,000 residents. One person died from medical complications she suffered while evacuating from a nursing home.

Despite the loss of homes and other structures, the injury impacts of the fires were less severe, thanks in part to the city’s second-ever evacuation drill in April.

Sarah Nuss is the director of emergency management for Spokane. She joins us to share more details about the drill and its effectiveness in helping get tens of thousands of individuals safely out of danger.

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/08/26/think-out-loud-how-spokane-effectively-prepared-for-wildfire-evacuations/