Three fast-moving wildfires burning in and around Spokane County, Washington have destroyed more than 600 structures and forced thousands of residents to flee their homes. The Old Trails Fire, Autumn Lane Fire, and Fairview Fire — now being managed collectively as the Spokane Area Fires — ignited over the weekend of August 1-2, 2026, during an extreme fire weather event that brought record heat, critically low humidity, and strong winds to eastern Washington.

Scale of the Devastation

As of August 3, the Old Trails Fire stood at approximately 3,619 acres, the Autumn Lane Fire at 3,351 acres, and the Fairview Fire at 1,056 acres. Together, the three fires have resulted in the largest urban-wildland interface disaster eastern Washington has seen in years. CNN reported at least 600 structures confirmed destroyed, with that number expected to rise as damage assessment teams gain access to burned areas.

Large parts of Spokane County remain under Level 3 evacuation orders — the most urgent level, carrying the directive: "Leave NOW! This may be your only notice." Mandatory evacuations for the Fairview Fire included areas bounded by Mount Spokane Park Drive to the north, Pleasant Prairie Road to the south, Market Street to the west, and Forker Road to the east.

Conditions That Drove the Fires

The National Weather Service issued a rare Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Warning for eastern Washington and northeastern Oregon on August 1, signaling an extremely high risk of rapid, uncontrollable fire spread. Gusty winds drove flames across the landscape at dangerous speeds, overwhelming initial attack resources and forcing evacuations faster than crews could respond.

Crews worked through the night of August 1-2 to protect structures and establish defensible perimeters, but erratic winds and tinder-dry fuels repeatedly compromised fire lines.

Response and Recovery

Multiple state and federal agencies are on scene, including Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, and local fire departments. The Washington State Emergency Management Division has activated support resources for displaced residents, and evacuation shelters have been established in the greater Spokane area.

Residents who have been evacuated are urged not to return until officials officially lift evacuation orders, as hazards including downed power lines, unstable structures, and residual hot spots remain present throughout affected areas.

  • Old Trails Fire: ~3,619 acres
  • Autumn Lane Fire: ~3,351 acres
  • Fairview Fire: ~1,056 acres
  • Structures destroyed: 600+
  • Evacuation level: Level 3 (Leave NOW) for large portions of Spokane County

For the latest evacuation maps and shelter locations, visit Spokane County Emergency Management at spokanecounty.org/emergency.