Update on the Spokane Fire

Some of you have read part 1, concerning the personal loss of Pastor Jeremy Thomas of Spokane Bible church. Here is a little update (8-9-26) to the Spokane fire, which has been termed as apocalyptic — And truly it has been devastating. (Make sure you look for a book to come from Jeremy on Daniel and Revelation for the inside track on what the Apocalypse will really be like).

Pastor Thomas’s update 8-10-26

We have some help with the itemizing, but it’s going to take awhile. Insurance companies want a quick payout. They capitalize on your sorrow, you lose again, and they win. Your gifts have put us in a position where we can fight for what’s right. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Here is a list of Jeremy’s books/commentarys, available both in Kindle and paperback:

Jeremy Thomas is pastor-teacher of Spokane Bible Church and adjunct faculty at Chafer Theological Seminary. He has published articles in theological journals and his teachings are featured weekly on Grace Global Radio, pick your time zone here. His conviction that the word of God is infallible in every area of life, his extensive research and analysis of the original text and ancient history, joined with his love for communicating truth to Christ’s church, results in an accurate and concise style that is accessible to anyone. He and his wife, Robin, have five children and reside in Spokane, WA.

1 & 2 Thessalonians: The Rapture and the Day of the Lord (Paul’s Epistles)

Basics of the Faith: A Concise Handbook

1 Corinthians: Worldliness in the Church (Paul’s Epistles Book 3)

2 Corinthians: Ministry of the New Covenant (Paul’s Epistles)

Galatians: Gospel of Freedom

The 37-year-old arsonist, Aaron Farnacci, was previously charged with first degree murder of his adoptive father. They determined he was of below average intelligence. They added anxiety, depression and suicide attempts as well as saying he was possibly bipolar to fight the first degree murder. In 2012, they allowed a manslaughter and aggravated assault plea, and he got out in December of 2020, moving to Spokane in 2022. The sad part is he has a toddler son (he was living with his adoptive mother). Pray for that little one.

However, his “below average intelligence,” didn’t stop him from researching weather apps, in order to pick the best days with high wind, low humidity, and higher heat. Investigators said he had pre-planned the Old Trails Fire for two weeks. He also confessed to starting 25 other fires in a similar fashion — so far investigators have verified 4 of them. He was being investigated last year for starting fires although that didn’t stop him. He told a detective that fire was powerful, beautiful, and that things that go through it experience a kind of rebirth. There is only one place for us to experience rebirth, and that is through belief in the gospel, and being regenerated by the Spirit of God (born of the Spirit). If you want to know more about where you will go when you die, please read here.

Firefighters are not just dealing with the fire, but exploding propane tanks, along with natural gas lines feeding the fire. Explosions coming from cars, transformers, and ammunition. Imagine the tires and the caustic smoke they cause as cars are lit on fire. The Spokesman reported that wind blew embers under their shirts and down their backs. Some firefighters vomiting from dehydration. Please, please continue to pray for their safety, and wisdom, and direction in fighting these fires. Winds are blowing fires laterally across roads (like a blowtorch one said). Firefighters say they haven’t seen conditions like this before, calling it a monster of a fire. Pray about the weather. It will be hot again today, and we’re not expecting any rain this week, (although you can still pray and ask God for rain anyways). Winds are always sporadic here, high winds, hot weather and no rain make it more difficult to fight, today is 7 mph, tomorrow 10 — so pray for all these things.

I have checked but have not seen any fatalities, thank the Lord for His tender mercies. Last I saw, the people who were unaccounted for have all been located.

Continue praying for all involved in loss of their homes. Pray for the protection and encouragement and strengthening of the firefighters. Please pray for the specific protection of Spokane Bible church. Please also pray for the emotions and stress each family will go through in the loss of their home and some beloved pets. The loss of precious sentimental possessions that will never be seen again. The stress of dealing with the impossible task of listing items lost (or at least it was that way for me). It’s impossible, and as you make a home again, you realize simple things that never came to mind (silverware, utensils, office pens, pencils, staplers, etc.). You try to list clothing and shoes, and it is really near impossible. So pray it isn’t as tedious for them as it was for us back then. You get nowhere near what you paid for items, and replacing them gets very expensive, very quickly.

Pastor Thomas and his family have a long road ahead, but I pray they can be a light to others in their community who are suffering too. May there be more souls harvested in this time. I pray God blesses those who have given to this family or others. I understand you can give through paypal under the name Spokane Bible church, designated to Pastor Thomas and his family. Also I will provide links again for those who want to help.

Rebuild Lives After Loss – Fundraiser by Riven Atwood on *spotfund

Fundraiser for Jeremy Thomas by David Roseland : Support for the Thomas Family After Wildfire