Old Trails Fire forces thousands to evacuate in Spokane

A fast-moving wildfire in Spokane County, Washington, forced thousands of residents to evacuate their homes on Saturday, August 1, 2026, as extreme weather conditions fueled multiple blazes across the state. The Old Trails Fire, which ignited around noon, rapidly spread across thousands of acres, threatening thousands of structures and prompting the highest level of evacuation orders.

Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency and a burn ban on Saturday morning in response to the severe fire threat. Officials said high winds and high temperatures created a "Particularly Dangerous Situation," with the National Weather Service issuing its first-ever Red Flag Warning of that severity for Central and Eastern Washington. The conditions meant new fires could grow out of control rapidly and made firefighting efforts more dangerous.

The Old Trails Fire was active on approximately 3,000 acres by Saturday evening, according to state officials, and threatened an estimated 4,000 structures. Evacuation orders, designated Level 3 or "Go Now," were issued for large sections of northwest Spokane, including areas bounded by Strong Road, Francis Avenue, Five Mile Road, and Cedar Road....