2026 Washington Spokane Forest Fires

2026 Washington Spokane Forest Fires (English: Spokane Complex Fire) is a fire complex consisting of three separate wildfires: Old Trails, Fairview, and Autumn Lane, which began on August 1, 2026, in Spokane County, Washington, United States.^【1】 The fires rendered more than 600 buildings unusable and led to the evacuation of approximately 60,000 people.^【2】

Designated by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell as the country's "highest priority fire", the complex prompted Washington Governor Bob Ferguson to declare a state of emergency across the state on August 1, 2026.^【3】

^{Spokane Fire, August 2, 2026 – (Anadolu Ajansı)}

All three fires comprising the 2026 Washington Spokane Forest Fires — Old Trails, Fairview, and Autumn Lane — began on the afternoon of Saturday, August 1, 2026. Under conditions of drought — Washington’s fourth consecutive dry year — above-seasonal temperatures, and strong winds, the fires rapidly spread over a large area.

The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) issued a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" Red Flag Warning, the first such warning ever issued for Eastern Washington, covering Eastern Washington and parts of Oregon on the day the fires started.^【4】 For hours on August 1, winds blowing at 35–45 miles per hour (approximately 56–72 km/h) hindered containment efforts and accelerated the fires’ spread.^【5】

The largest of the three fires, the Old Trails Fire, ignited in the West Plains region west of Spokane, near Airway Heights. Fueled by strong winds, the fire moved northeast, jumped into Riverside State Park, crossed the Spokane River, destroyed the Spokane Rifle Club, and reached the city’s slopes, impacting the neighborhoods of Indian Trail and Five Mile Prairie. ^【6】 The area affected by the fire reached approximately 2,300 hectares by Saturday night and exceeded 3,600 hectares by Sunday morning; according to federal fire management teams, the total burned area reached 3,619 hectares. Initial reports indicated that between 4,000 and 5,000 structures were threatened.^【7】 Spokane County Fire District 3 Chief Cody Rohrbach announced that only the Old Trails Fire destroyed 640 structures.^【8】

The Fairview Fire, which started near the Mead area north of Spokane, affected an area of 1,056 hectares according to federal fire management teams.^【9】 Numerous firefighters from across the state gathered around Mount Spokane High School to combat this fire.

The Autumn Lane Fire, which originated from a slash pile in the Suncrest area within Stevens County, rapidly spread uphill due to wind and burned at least three homes in the Meadowview area. According to federal fire management teams, the fire affected an area of 3,351 hectares.^【10】 On Sunday evening, August 2, the fire moved downhill toward the Rutter Parkway/Painted Rocks area and became the highest priority fire in the nation.^【11】

The total area affected by the Spokane Complex Fire, combining all three fires, was reported to be between 7,700 and 7,780 hectares. According to NBC News, the federal incident management team coordinating the response stated that the complex was 0 percent contained.^【12】 Al Jazeera reported that approximately 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) across Washington state had burned, with some fires, including those in the Spokane area, still uncontained.^【13】

According to Spokane Police Chief Kevin Hall, approximately 60,000 people were evacuated from within city limits. The evacuation order issued due to the Old Trails Fire was classified at the highest level: Level 3 ("leave now due to life-threatening conditions"). The fire also prompted evacuations of Spokane Veterans Hospital, a water treatment facility, and a waste-to-energy plant.^【14】

Authorities reported no fatalities or serious injuries directly linked to the fires, but noted that the number could change as teams have not yet accessed all affected areas. Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown stated during a press conference on Sunday, August 2, that the city was "still assessing its potential for loss of life".^【15】

Authorities reported that more than 600 buildings (residential, commercial, and other structures) were rendered unusable across the three fires. The exact number of homes, businesses, or schools affected has not yet been finalized.^【16】

Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown described the events as the "largest natural disaster the region has ever faced". Incident Commander Tom Clemo stated that the likely largest and most destructive wildfire in Washington state history occurred the previous afternoon. While parts of Fairmount Memorial Cemetery sustained damage, the majority of the grounds and mausoleums remained unharmed; Spokane Public Schools, Mead School District, and Great Northern School District officials confirmed that school buildings along the fire’s path were not burned.

On Saturday, August 1, 2026, Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency across the state, citing record drought conditions, unusually high temperatures, and strong winds as factors exacerbating the unprecedented wildfire activity.^【18】

The declaration implemented a statewide burn ban effective until September 30, 2026, covering most outdoor and agricultural burning activities. The ban prohibits trash burning, land clearing, weed control, ceremonial fires, and campfires outside designated fire rings. However, liquid or gas-fueled stoves or grills used at least five feet away from flammable vegetation on non-combustible surfaces, as well as agricultural burning with proper permits and campfires within enclosed structures such as fireplaces or chimneys, remain exempt. Governor Ferguson stated, "Our record drought and strong winds are creating dangerous conditions across the state. I am declaring a state of emergency to help prevent loss of life and property."^【19】

The Spokane Convention Center was activated as a temporary shelter for displaced families, accommodating 409 households who had to leave their homes. All YMCA branches in Spokane (Central, North, South, and Valley YMCA) opened their facilities to provide showers and other basic needs for evacuees. The American Red Cross established an evacuation shelter at Jenkins High School in Chewelah for those evacuated from southern Stevens County. To prevent looting, the Spokane Police Department increased night patrols.