Kerns wants to extend use timeline
MEDICAL LAKE – In a bid to address the need for temporary housing following last year’s Gray Fire, Spokane County Commissioners have approved a letter of intent to amend to the zoning code to expand the use of Conex boxes for wildfire survivors.
The proposed amendment would extend the duration for which Conex boxes can be utilized, County Commissioner Josh Kerns said.
These containers, widely employed in shipping and logistics, offer a practical and cost-effective means of temporary housing for those displaced by wildfires, he said.
“It is imperative that we act swiftly to allow survivors to utilize Conex boxes for longer durations,” Kerns said.
The initiative, spearheaded by Kerns, underscores a community-driven response to the challenges posed by the Gray Fire.
Originating in Elk, the idea of employing Conex boxes as a temporary housing solution gained traction amid ongoing recovery efforts from last year’s Oregon Road Fire.
“Simple policy changes such as this will offer survivors practical solutions to address their immediate housing needs,” Kerns said.
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
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