Around 700 Homes Destroyed by Fast Moving Wildfire in Spokane, Washington

SPOKANE, Wash. - Fast-moving wildfires driven by high winds and dry conditions have destroyed around 700 structures, primarily homes, in and around Spokane, Washington's second-largest city, forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate in what local officials have described as the region's worst natural disaster.

Three blazes-collectively referred to as the Spokane Complex or Spokane Area Fire, consisting of the Old Trails, Autumn Lane, and Fairview fires-ignited on Saturday, August 1, 2026, and rapidly expanded. By early this week the fires had burned more than 8,000 acres, or roughly 12.5 square miles, with 0% containment reported in initial assessments.

Spokane, home to approximately 230,000 residents and ranking as the state's second-most populous city after Seattle, saw flames jump the Spokane River and push into residential neighborhoods on the city's northern and northwestern edges. Strong winds gusting 35 to 45 mph, combined with high temperatures, a record-setting drought, and dry vegetation, allowed the fires to spread quickly through areas including Indian Trail and other neighborhoods.

Subdivision with burned homes in Spokane Washington. saw flames jump the Spokane River and push into residential neighborhoods on the city's northern and northwestern edges. Strong winds gusting 35 to 45 mph, combined with high temperatures, a record-setting drought, and dry vegetation

Officials estimated that about 60,000 to 67,000 people were under evacuation orders, many at the highest "Go Now" level. Shelters, including one at the Spokane Convention Center, opened to house displaced residents. Power outages affected thousands of customers in the region.

Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown called the event "the worst natural disaster our region has faced." Fire Chief and incident commanders noted that hundreds of structures were lost, with one early report citing 640 destroyed in the Old Trails Fire alone; broader tallies settled around 700 buildings impacted or destroyed, though some preliminary aerial assessments suggested the number could rise as damage surveys continue. No deaths or serious injuries had been confirmed as of Monday reports.

More than 900 firefighters, including personnel from outside the state and a California interagency team, were engaged in the response. Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency and burn ban. The cause of the fires remained under investigation, with weather conditions cited as the primary driver of their rapid growth. Improved weather with lighter winds and cooler temperatures was expected to aid containment efforts in the coming days, though officials cautioned that full assessments of the damage and return timelines for residents could take weeks.

Residents returning to affected areas described scenes of widespread devastation, with many homes reduced to foundations and chimneys amid charred landscapes. Authorities continued to urge the public to follow evacuation orders and avoid re-entering restricted zones while firefighting operations proceeded.