SPOKANE, Wash. — The Spokane County Medical Examiner identified 13 of the 20 people who died during the extreme heat from late June to early July.
As of Monday, the Washington Department of Health (DOH) said that 91 people likely died because of the historic heat. The majority of these deaths occurred in King and Pierce counties with the highest number of heat-related deaths happening on June 29. That day saw 33 reported deaths across the state, the DOH said. To compare, there were just seven heat-related deaths in all of Washington state from mid-June to the end of August in 2020.
Of the 13 people identified in Spokane County, they range in age from 45 to 84. Their cause of deaths range from hyperthermia to environmental heat exposure and dehydration.
Here’s a list of the people that have been identified:
- Deana Farwell, 64 (July 1)
- Beverly Martin, 84 (July 1)
- David Bevleming, 81 (July 1)
- Alan Rosane, 81 (July 7)
- Stacy Leahy, 59 (July 6)
- Charles Hardin, 71 (July 7)
- Floyd Napier, 79 (July 6)
- Morris Nelson, 79 (July 7)
- Ronda Truppe, 65 (July 2)
- David Rodgers, 67 (July 1)
- Rosanna McIntyre, 70 (June 29)
- Edwin Kedish 65 (July 1)
Two deaths that may be heat-related were reported at a Spokane apartment building on June 30, according to City of Spokane spokesperson Brian Coddington. Neighbors reported to the Spokane Fire Department that the two people found dead were suffering some symptoms of heat-related stress, Coddington said.
According to Coddington, personnel with Spokane Fire responded to the New Washington Apartments building at 327 W. Second Ave. in Spokane at 8:25 a.m. Two men were found dead in neighboring units.
The Spokane County Medical Examiner identified a 68-year-old man who died in the 300 block of W. Second Avenue as Robert L. Hunt, along with 36-year-old Andre Pharr. The cause and manner of death for both men are listed as pending.
Coddington and a spokesperson for the Spokane Police Department were not able to definitively confirm that the two deaths were heat-related.
Spokane County Communications Manager Jared Webley said many of the victims had underlying health conditions which made them more susceptible to heat stress. Some also had cognitive impairment or mobility problems that limited their ability to remove themselves from the dangerously hot environment, Webley said.
