Spokane Valley emergency officials are reminding residents to register for ALERT Spokane, the region's emergency notification system, and to prepare evacuation supplies before a wildfire threatens their area. Officials warn that residents who are away from home during a fire will only receive notifications if they have registered in advance.
The city uses a three-level evacuation system managed in coordination with Spokane Regional Emergency Communications. A Level 1 alert means residents should get ready to leave and place a go-bag near the door. A Level 2 alert means dangerous conditions are present and residents should be prepared to leave at a moment's notice, with those needing extra time — including pet and livestock owners — strongly encouraged to leave immediately.
A Level 3 alert is the most urgent designation, signaling an immediate threat to life and requiring residents to leave without delay. Officials note that emergency services may not be able to assist during a Level 3 evacuation. Residents needing help evacuating pets or livestock at any level are directed to call 911.
Recommended go-bag items include money, important documents, medications, food, water, pet supplies, clothing, and bedding. The city has also made emergency preparedness information available in multiple languages, including Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Arabic, Farsi, and Marshallese. Residents can review evacuation zone boundaries using the Fire Evacuation Map on the city's website.