Spokane wildfires disrupt service for Avista Corp. (NYSE: AVA) customers
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Avista Corporation reports that three major wildfires in the Spokane, Washington area, within its service territory, have burned over 8,000 acres and destroyed over 600 structures as of the evening of August 2, 2026. None of the fires are contained, and the company states its facilities were not involved in starting any of them. The fires have caused extensive damage to electric transmission and distribution facilities, leading to customer outages and evacuations in West Spokane.
Service has been restored to customers affected only by prior Public Safety Power Shutoffs, but remaining outages are tied to active wildfire conditions, damaged infrastructure, evacuation restrictions and safety concerns. Significant damage to transmission lines in West Spokane has reduced system capacity and may cause periodic power outages as repairs proceed. Approximately 5,300 natural gas customers are without service, and restoration requires multi-step inspections, repairs and relighting at individual premises. Avista is coordinating with emergency agencies, requesting voluntary energy conservation and emphasizing safety and community support during recovery.
Positive
- None.
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- Wildfire activity in Avista’s service territory has damaged transmission and distribution infrastructure and left approximately 5,300 natural gas customers without service, with none of the three major fires contained and the electric system operating at reduced capacity.
8-K Event Classification
Key Figures
Key Terms
Public Safety Power Shutoff technical
transmission infrastructure technical
natural gas distribution system technical
evacuation orders regulatory
restoration activities technical
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On August 1, 2026, multiple fires started in the Spokane, Washington area, within the service territory of Avista Corporation (Avista Corp. or the Company). Dry and windy conditions have resulted in rapid spread of the fires in the Company's service territory, resulting in customer outages and evacuations. The Company's facilities were not involved in starting any of the fires in the Spokane area.
As of the evening of August 2, 2026 (and relying to some extent on reports of government agencies and external news reports), the three major fires in the Spokane area have affected over 8,000 acres and destroyed over 600 structures. At this time, none of the fires are contained. The fires have caused extensive damage to the Company's transmission and distribution facilities serving West Spokane.
Management remains focused on serving customers and supporting recovery efforts in affected communities. Further details on the fires and impacts on the Company's operations are included in the press release filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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Exhibits |
99.1 |
Press release dated August 2, 2026, which is being filed pursuant to Item 8.01. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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Avista Corporation |
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August 3, 2026 |
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/s/ Gregory C. Hesler |
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Gregory C. Hesler |
Exhibit 99.1
Contact:
Avista 24/7 Media Access (509) 495-4174
Wildfire damage continues to impact Avista customers
Active fires and damaged infrastructure continue to affect electric and natural gas service in parts of the Spokane area
SPOKANE, Wash., August 2, 2026 — Avista has restored service to customers affected solely by the Public Safety Power Shutoffs implemented Saturday due to extreme wildfire risk conditions across portions of Washington and Idaho. However, active wildfire conditions and significant fire-related damage continue to affect electric and natural gas service for customers in parts of the Spokane area.
In the Indian Trail area and other locations that were part of the PSPS event, customers should be aware that any remaining outages are no longer related to the Public Safety Power Shutoff. Customers who remain without power are being impacted by active wildfire conditions, damaged infrastructure, evacuation restrictions or ongoing safety concerns associated with the fires.
"We know this has been an incredibly difficult and heartbreaking weekend for many members of our community," said Heather Rosentrater, Avista president and CEO. "Many families, which include a number of Avista employees, have been forced from their homes. Neighborhoods have been impacted by these devastating fires, and thousands of customers are facing ongoing uncertainty. Our thoughts are with everyone affected. While service has been restored to customers impacted solely by the Public Safety Power Shutoff, we know that thousands of customers are still without power and for many, the hardest part may still lie ahead. As emergency responders are continuing to secure affected areas, the full extent of the damage remains unclear. Our teams are working around the clock to assess damage where we can, make repairs and restore service as quickly and safely as possible. We remain committed to supporting our customers and communities throughout the recovery process."
New development: Transmission damage may cause periodic outages
As Avista crews continue damage assessments, the company has identified significant impacts to transmission infrastructure, particularly in West Spokane. Multiple transmission lines in the area sustained damage as a result of wildfire activity. While Avista has taken steps to maintain service to as many customers as possible, customers may experience periodic power outages in the coming days as crews evaluate damage and make necessary repairs to the transmission system.
The damaged transmission system is currently operating with reduced capacity while repairs are underway. As we continue repairs, we are asking customers to voluntarily conserve energy
