IHAN & VFF Spokane Complex Fire Response

Emergency Field Update & Funding Request — Spokane Complex Fire Response

August 13, 2026

Dear Friends and Partners,

Over the past four days, our IHAN and Volunteer Fire Foundation teams have been embedded at the Spokane Fairgrounds basecamp, providing acute medical support to firefighters responding to the Spokane Complex Fire.

From Sunday, August 9 through Wednesday, August 12, we provided care to 665 firefighters with 1,461 treatments.

We treated local Spokane-area firefighters, Incident Command personnel, and strike teams from across the country, including crews from as far away as the east coast. Our clinicians provided nebulized and IV glutathione, acupuncture, targeted nutritional support, and nervous system regulation during the acute stage of the response.

From the Ground in Spokane

Our work at basecamp has been covered by Spokane’s local NBC and CBS affiliates, offering a firsthand look at our clinic and why this care matters for firefighters facing significant smoke and toxic exposures.

WATCH: CBS SPOKANE COVERAGE: https://bit.ly/3SxEuXJ

WATCH: NBC SPOKANE COVERAGE: https://bit.ly/3Uvz9ka

And we are already hearing directly from firefighters who returned for additional treatments. Some told us they noticed a meaningful difference in their recovery when heading back out for physically demanding fire work. Others reported sleep scores rising into the 90s after consistently being in the 50s and 60s. These are individual reports, but they are encouraging and reinforce why we want to continue this work.

Basecamp Is Closing. Our Work Is Continuing.

Today is our final day at basecamp as the incident demobilizes and the fires near full containment. Many of the firefighters we served are already moving on to other fires.

Our team is now transitioning to a local naturopathic medical clinic, where we will continue treatment with a particular focus on Spokane-area departments, including firefighters who were among the first on the line and experienced significant smoke and toxic exposures.

When we arrived, we made a promise to Spokane’s fire chiefs that we would not treat their firefighters once and disappear.

Keeping that promise depends on funding.

Help Us Continue This Work

$30,000 — Complete the Acute Response
Supports this deployment, medical supplies, and immediate follow-up clinics for Spokane-area firefighters.

$60,000 — Continue Sub-Acute Care
Allows us to return to Spokane for ongoing clinics in the months following the fire.

$100,000 — Build Longer-Term Care
Supports sustained environmental health and recovery care for firefighters with significant occupational exposures.

Every contribution, at any amount, helps us continue providing this care at no cost to firefighters.

Four days ago, we arrived in Spokane for our first out-of-state deployment. As of today, 665 firefighters have received care, relationships have been built with departments from across the region, and we have an opportunity to turn an acute disaster response into sustained support for Spokane’s firefighters.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped make this possible.

LEARN MORE: PHOTOS, MEDIA & SPOKANE FIELD UPDATES

https://www.ihanclinics.org/spokane-complex-fire-response.html

With gratitude,

The Integrative Health Action Network & Volunteer Fire Foundation Teams