ICYMI: Congressman Baumgartner Joins Governor Ferguson to Provide an Update on State’s Request for Federal Major Disaster Declaration Regarding Eastern WA Wildfires

ICYMI: Congressman Baumgartner Joins Governor Ferguson to Provide an Update on State’s Request for Federal Major Disaster Declaration Regarding Eastern WA Wildfires September 29, 2026 | Press Releases September 28, 2026 SPOKANE, WA — Today, Congressman Michael Baumgartner (WA-05) joined Gov. Bob Ferguson along with other state and local officials to formally request a federal Major Disaster Declaration related to the wildfires in Eastern Washington that broke out earlier this summer. Three major wildfires – the Old Trails Fire in northwest Spokane, the Autumn Lane Fire near Nine Mile Falls, and the Fairview Fire in Mead – caused widespread destruction across the Spokane area. The fires prompted evacuations for approximately 67,000 residents, burned nearly 10,000 acres, and destroyed 833 homes. Total damages are estimated to exceed $1 billion. View Senator Murray and the entire Washington delegation’s letter to President Trump here . Watch the full press conference here . Congressman Baumgartner ’ s Notable Quotes: “These fires have made a mark on the national landscape [and] I cannot begin to tell you how many members of Congress throughout the country have reached out in the aftermath of the fires and there is a nationwide willingness to help and a nationwide understanding that we need help. […] “While there are Republicans, Democrats, Independents that support you, this has just been a unified effort across the board and that has been great to see. […] “I was also with President Trump, a week ago Wednesday, in the Oval Office, at the White House and feel very confident that we are going to get support for this FEMA request. […] “Now, as these go forward, there’s both an individual component and a government component and it’s important the federal government is not just writing a blank check here so it’s important that the government component be reasonable and not be a cash grab to fill in other aspects of government spending but again, I do feel very confident [and] Secretary Mullin feels very confident about the need here. […] “It’s important that if the federal government is going to be helping states like Washington, it’s important that states like Washington be doing everything they can to have healthy forests.”