Spokane Wildfire Forces Mass Evacuations

A swift wildfire fueled by strong winds and high temperatures blazed through northwest Spokane on Saturday. The Old Trails Fire ignited around noon, burning through brush and grass. It quickly expanded north and east towards residential areas.

The fire crossed the Spokane River, compelling thousands of people to evacuate. Vehicles crowded the roads as residents fled, with flames visible from the highway. Smoke spread over the region, and by evening, nearly 4 square miles (10 square kilometers) had burned, according to Courtney James, spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. The fire’s cause remains under investigation.

Email James urged Spokane residents to follow evacuation orders and remain alert to sudden changes. Despite some structures being lost, officials have yet to tally a precise count, as per Jessica Watson, a DNR fire spokesperson. By evening, firefighters had zero containment, and winds persisted.

Avista, the local power company, initiated public safety shutoffs due to increased fire risk. In response to the heightened threat, Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency on Saturday. The situation worsened due to unusually high temperatures and winds that intensified wildfires statewide. The National Weather Service issued a ‘particularly dangerous situation’ red flag alert for eastern Washington.