Avista Corp Reports Wildfire Damage in Spokane Service Area

What Happened
Avista Corporation (Avista) filed an 8-K on August 3, 2026 reporting that multiple fires started on August 1, 2026 in the Spokane, Washington area within its service territory. Dry, windy conditions drove rapid fire spread, producing customer outages and evacuations. Avista states its facilities did not start any of the fires. As of the evening of August 2, 2026, the three major fires had affected over 8,000 acres, destroyed more than 600 structures, and were not contained. The fires have caused extensive damage to Avista’s transmission and distribution facilities serving West Spokane. Management says it is focused on serving customers and supporting recovery efforts; further details were provided in a press release filed as Exhibit 99.1.

Key Details

• Filing: Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 3, 2026 (Item 8.01 Other Events).
• Dates: Fires began August 1, 2026; status reported as of the evening of August 2, 2026.
• Scope of damage: >8,000 acres affected and >600 structures destroyed (per government/news reports cited).
• Operational impact: Extensive damage to transmission and distribution facilities serving West Spokane; outages and evacuations reported. The company states its facilities did not cause the fires.

Why It Matters
This 8-K notifies investors of a significant operational event affecting Avista’s service territory and customers. The filing documents physical damage and customer impacts (outages and evacuations) but does not provide dollar estimates or financial impact figures; investors should watch for follow-up disclosures about restoration progress, repair costs, service restoration timelines, and any regulatory or insurance implications. The company has filed a press release (Exhibit 99.1) with additional context.