Spokane Fire Recovery and Colorado's Prop 137 Wildfire Debate — November 2, 2026

Today's news is about the long tail of wildfire: rebuilding after the flames, deciding how to pay for prevention, and keeping the air inside your home healthy.

Spokane's slow recovery, three months on

The Spokane Complex Fires damaged more than 800 buildings in three separate blazes that started Aug. 1. Three months later, some lots in the Old Trails fire area have been cleared or already have new foundations, while many others still hold charred debris, as the Spokane Spokesman-Review reports.

Millions of dollars were donated while the fires were burning, but giving has since tapered off. The Innovia Foundation raised $5 million from more than 4,700 donors for Spokane Complex relief, plus $3 million for wildfire recovery across Eastern Washington. Its CEO, Shelly O'Quinn, told the paper that in disasters most long-term recovery money arrives in the first few months, but only a small share is spent in the short term.

A Colorado column says Prop 137 misses home hardening

In an opinion column in the Aspen Daily News, the writer argues that Proposition 137 won't solve Colorado's wildfire problem. The measure would send roughly $83 million a year to Great Outdoors Colorado and more than $83 million to wildfire-risk mitigation and watershed protection.

The column says the measure includes no money for home hardening, early fire detection, burying power lines, emergency alerts, or evacuation management. It points to research showing that embers, not walls of flame, ignite most homes, and to the 2021 Marshall Fire, which began as a grass fire and spread house to house in winds over 100 mph.

Quiet signs your indoor air needs attention

A Naples Daily News guide lists clues such as musty odors, foggy windows, persistent humidity, and an HVAC filter that gets dirty fast. It notes the EPA says some pollutants can be several times higher indoors than outdoors.

The EPA recommends at least a MERV 13 filter, or the best one your system can handle, and indoor humidity between 30% and 50%. The article suggests an inexpensive hygrometer to check humidity rather than going by feel. As the heating season starts, checking the furnace filter is an easy first step.

Sources

• Millions poured into fundraisers for wildfire relief in August. Why groups are slow to spend it — Spokane Spokesman-Review
• Veblen: Prop 137 won't solve state wildfire crisis — Aspen Daily News
• 5 signs of poor indoor air quality and HVAC problems in your home — Naples Daily News

Canairy aggregates publicly reported air-quality and wildfire news and summarizes it in plain English, with links to the original sources. This is educational information, not medical or emergency advice. In a wildfire or air-quality emergency, follow guidance from local authorities.