Avista says wildfire damage leaves thousands without power in Spokane area

Avista said wildfires in the Spokane area damaged its electric and natural gas infrastructure, leaving thousands of customers without service as of Aug. 2.

• Significant transmission damage in West Spokane reduced system capacity, raising the risk of periodic power outages during repairs.
• About 5,300 natural gas customers remained out of service due to damage, access limits, and safety restrictions in fire-affected areas.
• Restoration work depended on access to evacuated neighborhoods, with full damage assessments still incomplete due to active fire conditions.