# Spokane Fire Department Budget Raided: $885K Spent Fighting Fired Crew

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/behind-the-line-podcast-pacific-northwest-politics-and-constitutional-commentary-3000152/spokane-fire-department-budget-raided-885k-spent-fighting-fired-crew
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/behind-the-line-podcast-pacific-northwest-politics-and-constitutional-commentary-3000152/spokane-fire-department-budget-raided-885k-spent-fighting-fired-crew.md
Podcast: [Left Coast News](https://stenobird.com/podcast/behind-the-line-podcast-pacific-northwest-politics-and-constitutional-commentary-3000152)
Published: 2026-08-20T14:45:36+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/behindtheline/episodes/Spokane-Fire-Department-Budget-Raided-885K-Spent-Fighting-Fired-Crew-e3nll24
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/3b0e86f8/podcast/play/124490244/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-7-20%2F7d7be121-5c7b-6a31-07c4-9075b703f8c4.mp3
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Duration seconds: 625

## Resource

The Spokane City Council just voted 6–1 to drain another $200,000 directly from the Spokane Fire Department’s operational budget to keep fighting terminated firefighters in court—bringing the total taxpayer cost to a staggering $885,000. ​Instead of funding frontline gear, wildland defense, or emergency staffing, city officials are burning public safety funds on high-priced litigation to defend past COVID-19 vaccine mandate firings. Following a major reversal by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Bacon v. Woodward), the city's legal position is unraveling—yet City Hall continues to spend rather than settle. ​In this episode of Left Coast News, we break down the budget trail, expose the hypocrisy behind mutual aid policies, and discuss why it’s time for taxpayers to hold their elected officials accountable. #SpokaneWA #SpokaneCityCouncil #SpokaneFire #EasternWashington #WApolitics #WashingtonState #TaxpayerDollars #GovernmentWaste #FirstRespondersFirst #Firefighters

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