WaTech links wildfire imagery and property data to support Spokane response and recovery

WaTech documented how its geospatial office brought post-disaster imagery and cross-agency datasets into a shared operational picture during the Spokane County wildfires. The account describes an existing response capability rather than a newly announced system.

For emergency managers and assessors, combining imagery with property and infrastructure records helps target inspections and understand damage without checking every location in person. Carrying those datasets into recovery supports remediation and permitting, while public viewers give residents access to evacuation and property-impact information.

WaTech’s account of the Spokane County wildfire response shows how shared geospatial infrastructure supports both immediate operations and longer-term recovery. Its State Geospatial Program Office coordinated information from county, state, federal, tribal and private partners so responders could work from a common geographic picture. Post-disaster imagery accessed through partners including Vexcel helped identify damaged buildings and locations needing closer inspection. Property and infrastructure layers supported assessors, while thermal imagery highlighted remaining heat to inform decisions about residents returning. The office also coordinated data for public-facing evacuation and damage-assessment viewers. During recovery, mapping supported remediation and rebuilding permit needs, including permitting information for lithium battery charging stations. The operational lesson is that usable, shared datasets and established coordination matter alongside imagery collection. WaTech identifies its year-round partnerships and Geoportal 2.0 platform as foundations for that work, but provides no quantified assessment of response improvements.

Evidence supplied by WaTech.