Allen Sather and his wife Kimberley embrace at their rented duplex on W. Indian Trail Rd. after it burned in a wildfire in Spokane, Washington, Sunday, August 2, 2026. Cooler temperatures are expected in Spokane, Washington, which could help firefighters battling three major wildfires. These fires have ravaged over 7,000 acres, destroyed about 600 homes, and forced around 60,000 people to evacuate. The origins of the fires are not yet known. They have been intensified by high winds and hot, dry conditions. Firefighters from local and external areas are working to manage the blazes. Fortunately, no deaths or injuries have been reported so far. The fires are among many burning throughout the Western U.S.
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown spoke with NPR’s Morning Edition, indicating that almost half of the city’s neighborhoods face evacuation or risk as the fire, covering roughly 12 square miles, remains uncontained. “A very large geography has been labeled Level 3, which means get out immediately,” Brown stated. “We’ve had fires before, but not on this scale.”
The Old Trails Fire, the largest of these fires, burns northwest of Spokane, covering over 3,600 acres according to the state’s Department of Natural Resources. The Autumn Lane Fire and the Fairview Fire also pose threats to Spokane, the second-largest city in Washington, with over 230,000 residents.
Despite the expected cooler temperatures, firefighters have made little progress, Brown said. “I’m sorry to report that the winds have shifted and the fires are not contained up to this point.” Brown noted that the threat of wildfires is well known in the state. “Efforts to reduce this risk have been ongoing, but this remains an unprecedented situation.” No rain is in the immediate forecast.
Video footage has captured black smoke rising from neighborhoods, with only brick chimneys marking where homes once stood, according to the Associated Press.
Alicia Davidson and her husband lost their home in the fires. “Just to have everything gone and to know that we have to completely start over is devastating,” Davidson shared with Northwest News Network’s Anna King. Hundreds of residents, including many elderly, are being housed at the Red Cross shelter in downtown Spokane. Nursing staff assists people changing clothes behind blankets at the shelter.
At a news conference held on Sunday with local, state, and federal officials, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson mentioned collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster assistance. “Many Washingtonians have lost everything in a very short period,” Ferguson noted. “In hours, their lives changed dramatically.” Sen. Maria Cantwell warned that “We are not out of danger,” adding, “The next couple of days will be challenging.”