06/18/2026
Media release from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. Possible Human Remains Discovered in Burned Home
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Detectives, Spokane County Fire District 9 Investigators, and Sheriff’s Office Forensic Unit personnel discovered possible human remains in a home that was completely burned in the Upriver Fire.
On June 16, 2026, at approximately 5:20 pm, a family member requested a welfare check at the home because one of the residents had refused to evacuate and could not be contacted.
Deputies responded to the address and found the fire had destroyed it. Due to the extreme conditions and the ongoing fire in the area, they were unable to investigate further.
Deputies contacted the family member and learned that the person refused to leave their home after receiving the Level 3 Evacuation Alert and was still believed to be inside.
Call notes from earlier in the afternoon confirmed one person had refused to evacuate after the initial notification.
Additionally, at approximately 2:30 pm, Deputies and Spokane Police Officers responded to the residence again after a nearby home was reported to be fully engulfed in flames. With houses and trees on fire near the residence, Deputies and Officers knocked, announced themselves, and advised anyone inside to leave immediately.
With no response, they found the front door unlocked and entered, repeating the announcement and the immediate need to evacuate, but again, received no reply. Soon after, they were ordered to evacuate the area as the fast-moving fire approached.
On June 17, 2026, at approximately 1:55 pm, Detectives, Fire Investigators, and Forensic Unit personnel went to the residence and located what appeared to be human remains.
Detectives and Fire Investigators will work with the Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office to confirm the possible decedent's identity, along with the cause and manner of death.
This remains an active investigation, and additional information is not available.
Corporal Mark Gregory
Spokane County Sheriff's Office
Spokane Valley Police Department
Public Information Officer
