A rapidly advancing wildfire swept through northwest Spokane, Washington, on Saturday. Strong winds and high temperatures intensified the situation, leading to the evacuation of thousands.
The fire, known as the Old Trails Fire, ignited around noon in an area filled with brush and grass. It quickly spread north and east toward residential neighborhoods. The blaze crossed the Spokane River, prompting urgent evacuations. Roads became crowded as residents fled, while orange and red flames were visible from highways.
By Saturday evening, the fire had engulfed nearly 4 square miles of land, according to Courtney James, spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. The fire’s origin remains under investigation.
“We urge residents of Spokane to heed evacuation orders and stay alert,” James emphasized. The fire resulted in some structural losses, though an exact count was unavailable, noted Jessica Watson, another DNR spokesperson.
As of the evening, firefighters had not achieved any containment. Winds continued to complicate efforts to control the blaze. Avista, the regional power company, initiated public safety shutoffs due to fire risks.
Washington’s Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency, responding to the exacerbated wildfires caused by extreme weather. The National Weather Service issued a red flag alert marking a “particularly dangerous situation” across eastern Washington.