Three wildfires burning on the edge of Spokane, Washington, have destroyed roughly 600 to 700 homes, businesses and other buildings and forced about 60,000 people from their homes since breaking out over the weekend, according to the Associated Press, which cited fire and law enforcement officials, and Axios, which reported roughly 640 structures destroyed.
Key Facts
- 600–700 homes, businesses and other buildings destroyed
- ~60,000 people evacuated
- Zero percent containment as of Sunday’s federal incident report
- No deaths or serious injuries confirmed as of Monday, August 3, 2026
- Three fires — Old Trails, Fairview and Autumn Lane — together called the Spokane Complex
- ~7,700 acres (about 12 square miles) burned by Sunday
Damage and evacuation figures are being revised by the hour. The numbers above reflect what officials had reported as of Monday morning, August 3.
How the Fires Started and Spread
The largest of the three, the Old Trails Fire, started around noon on Saturday, August 1, near Old Trails Road and Euclid Road just north of Airway Heights. Fanned by strong winds, it tore through Riverside State Park, jumped the Spokane River, and pushed into northwest Spokane neighborhoods including Indian Trail and Five Mile Prairie.
Two other fires are burning nearby:
- The Fairview Fire, near Mead
- The Autumn Lane Fire, northwest of Nine Mile Falls
Together, the three are being referred to as the Spokane Complex. Combined, they had burned about 7,700 acres — roughly 12 square miles — by Sunday, according to a federal incident management team report.
What Officials Know So Far
Fire and law enforcement officials said Sunday that no injuries or missing people had been reported, but cautioned it was still early in the response and that the toll could change as crews reach areas the fire has already passed through. Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels echoed that warning Monday.
The cause of the fires has not been determined; officials say the investigation is ongoing.
Estimates of how many structures have burned vary by source and by the hour, ranging from about 600 to more than 700, with officials describing even the higher figures as preliminary. Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown called it “the worst natural disaster our region has faced.” Evacuees have included patients moved out of Spokane’s Veterans Affairs hospital.
The Emergency Response
- Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide state of emergency and a burn ban covering the fire season, and spoke with President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin about the response.
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved grants to help cover firefighting costs for several of the fires.
- The Washington National Guard was activated to help local crews — the first time it has been called out for a Washington fire since 2021 — with about 30 personnel deployed initially, organized into two units.
- A California-based federal incident management team has taken command of the firefighting effort.
Weather Outlook
The National Weather Service issued its first-ever “Particularly Dangerous Situation” red flag warning for central and eastern Washington as the fires spread, reflecting extreme, fast-moving fire conditions.
Forecasters say Monday brought a brief break — lighter winds and a high near 80 degrees — but temperatures are expected to climb back into the 90s by midweek with no rain in sight. Forecasters are watching Friday for another round of strong winds that could worsen the fires again.
The Spokane fires are part of a busier-than-usual wildfire season across the West: Washington state has 17 active large fires, and the country as a whole has already seen more fires and more acres burned than the 10-year average, according to Axios.
If You Live in the Area
- Check Spokane County’s evacuation map to see if your address is inside or near an evacuation zone.
- Sign up for ALERT Spokane, the county’s emergency notification system.
- Have a “go bag” ready in case evacuation orders expand.
Shelter information:
- The main shelter for evacuees has been the Spokane Convention Center downtown, which has housed more than 400 people overnight.
- An earlier shelter at Spokane Falls Community College lost power.
- Evacuated animals and livestock can be sheltered at the Spokane County Fairgrounds.
Because shelter locations can shift as conditions change, residents looking for the latest options should check directly with Spokane County Emergency Management or the Red Cross rather than relying on older listings.
Other Fires Burning Nearby
Separately, other fires are burning in neighboring Stevens County and have triggered their own evacuation orders:
- The Two Rivers Fire, near the Spokane Reservation
- The Bradeen Hill Fire, near Gifford
These appear to be distinct incidents from the Spokane Complex, handled apart from the Old Trails, Fairview and Autumn Lane fires — though some evacuation zones tied to the Autumn Lane Fire extend into Stevens County as well.