Governor Bob Ferguson amended Washington's wildfire emergency proclamation to add Benton, Columbia, Grant, Kittitas and Whitman counties, bringing the total coverage to 12 counties and three tribal nations, according to the governor's office.
The amendment extends for 60 days a range of state protections and assistance programs, including the State Individual Assistance Program for people who lost their homes. Under the proclamation, everyone without insurance who lost their home is eligible for assistance regardless of household income. The governor also expanded the Family Emergency Assistance Program to include families without children and allow families to access the program monthly if needed.
The amendment extends through Sept. 30 two housing protections: prohibitions against landlords treating wildfire displacement as abandonment or evicting tenants who have taken in displaced individuals and pets. Ferguson first declared a statewide wildfire emergency on Aug. 1 and amended the proclamation on Aug. 10 to suspend state laws and open cash assistance for eight counties and three tribes.
For individuals, the proclamation waives fees for obtaining replacement documents lost in fires, including driver's licenses, vital records, and professional licenses through the Washington Department of Licensing and Department of Health. Unemployment benefits are available immediately without the standard one-week waiting period, and the job-search requirement has been suspended. The proclamation activated $1 million in Disaster Cash Assistance.
For health care providers, the proclamation extends deadlines for license renewals and waives the requirement that medical assistants have a supervising provider physically present. Hospitals, pharmacies, and assisted living facilities have received regulatory flexibility to operate alternative care sites and expand capacity during the emergency.
For businesses, the proclamation suspends rules limiting truck driver hours and waives late fees for employers unable to file second-quarter 2026 taxes. State agencies have been directed to submit reports identifying regulations and building codes that can be waived to streamline rebuilding.
The Trump Administration granted a federal emergency declaration for six counties and three tribal nations, unlocking assistance for local governments with evacuation costs, emergency shelters, food, water, and search and rescue operations. The state is seeking a major disaster declaration, with a request expected by mid-September, to unlock additional federal assistance for individuals.