A fast-moving wildfire has sent thousands of Spokane residents fleeing for safety after flames exploded across Washington state overnight, ripping through parched terrain as a dangerous heat wave transforms much of the West into a tinderbox.
The Spokane Complex comprises a trio of active blazes: the Old Trails Fire, which has devoured 3,509 acres and 600 structures; the Fairview Fire, which has spread across 981 acres; and the Autumn Lane Fire, which has consumed 900 acres.
Officials have declared a state of emergency. The highest-level evacuation order Level 3 – has been issued for several areas, with authorities telling residents to ‘leave now due to the life-threatening conditions.’
The Old Trails Fire erupted just before noon on Saturday near Old Trails Rd and Euclid Rd on the West Plains and rapidly spiraled out of control, driven by powerful winds and extreme temperatures that pushed flames to jump over the Spokane river and hurtle toward populated neighborhoods.
Within hours, emergency officials were ordering residents to leave their homes as thick smoke blanketed the region and firefighters scrambled to slow the advancing blaze.
Helicopters flew above the smoke, dropping water onto the inferno as winds gusted.
Authorities warned people in affected neighborhoods not to pause evacuation until they could see flames before escaping, warning that shifting winds could push the fire in unpredictable directions as conditions deteriorated.
The Washington National Guard has been deployed as firefighters work to quell the flames, ‘I think we’re going to be in shock to see some of the scenes that emerge,’ National Guard official Gent Welsh warned later that day.
Residents watched as their homes and neighborhoods were burned to the ground in the terrifying fires
Smoke rises over Spokane, Washington as the Old Trails Fire spreads rapidly through dry terrain during a dangerous heat wave
The Old Trail Fire is one of three blazes and began on Saturday morning just before noon, near Old Trails Rd and W Euclid Rd on the West Plains and hasn’t stopped its path of destruction since
Andrew Rowley watches Old Trails Fire from Dwight Merkel Sports Complex after evacuating, Saturday, August 1, 2026, in Spokane, Washington
By Saturday evening, the fire had consumed thousands of acres and threatened thousands of structures, creating a desperate overnight battle for crews trying to protect homes and stop the flames from spreading.
As smoke enveloped Spokane, families described the terrifying speed of the fire, with many forced to grab only essential documents, load pets into cars and bolt with whatever possessions they could carry.
For local Dmitriy Gorelov who spotted the first sign of smoke pluming from a hill across the river, it didn’t seem serious.
But then the wind picked up.
‘It’s a real strong wind starting up, and it was so quick – fires cover our area,’ he told CNN affiliate KREM.
By around noon, his phone was buzzing. Three or four evacuation alerts arrived in quick succession, he said, until the order was to leave immediately. Then police knocked on his door.
‘They just said, “Yeah, you need to leave,”’ Gorelov said. ‘So that was the last time we were in the house.’
Gorelov, his wife and their two children had planned to spend the night with relatives in Spokane. ‘We pray for our city, for our firefighters, everything,’ he said.
Firefighters battle the blaze as extreme weather conditions make efforts to contain the wildfire increasingly challenging
Officials have warned residents to remain vigilant, keep emergency supplies ready and follow evacuation warnings immediately
Aircraft were deployed overhead whilst ground crews fought to build containment lines and prevent the fire from further spreading
Some said they had gone from watching the wildfire from a distance to being told they needed to evacuate within a matter of hours.
One unnamed resident told CNN that in his 30 years living in the area, he had become accustomed to seeing smoke from fires in the distance but had never seen the flames come so close to his home.
Firefighters worked through the night as strong winds repeatedly shifted the direction of the blaze, making containment efforts increasingly difficult.
By Sunday morning, the Old Trails Fire remained a serious threat, as crews continued fighting the flames from the ground and air while emergency teams monitored threatened communities.
The fire has also forced evacuations at Spokane’s veterans’ hospital, water reclamation facility and waste-to-energy plant, city officials said.
A shelter has been set up at a local community college for displaced residents, however thousands of homes and structures remain without power.
The wildfire came as Washington was already facing a wider fire crisis, with officials pointing to a familiar set of drivers: a warming climate compounding drought; low snowpack; and dry, windy conditions that let fires ignite and spread with alarming speed.
Washington is battling at least 10 large fires that have burned over 425,000 acres this year – the most since 2021 – amid a fourth straight year of drought. Nearly 30,000 fires have ignited nationwide as of late spring, burning more than two million acres- the most in 14 years.
Onlookers watch as massive plumes of smoke rise from a wildfire in Spokane, US, August 1, 2026
Governor Ferguson’s emergency declaration allows Washington to mobilize additional resources and coordinate a wider response as firefighters continue battling the blaze
That trend has produced some of the most destructive fires on record in recent years – including the Eaton and Palisades fires that tore through Los Angeles County in January 2025, killing dozens and destroying thousands of homes in some of the costliest blazes in California history.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency on Saturday as firefighters were stretched across multiple fires burning throughout the state.
The declaration allows additional resources to be deployed as authorities battle to protect communities and prevent further destruction.
The Washington National Guard said it would send units to Spokane County to help with evacuation and traffic control on Sunday.
‘The Washington National Guard is making 30 members available tonight to Spokane authorities for any emerging needs,’ it said in a Facebook post.
‘We’re also pulling together a general purpose manpower pool that can be made immediately available to local authorities as additional requirements emerge over the coming days.’
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson says he will travel to Spokane this morning to meet with responders and monitor the emergency response to the fires.
‘My thoughts are with the first responders and all those under evacuation tonight,’ Ferguson said in a post on X. ‘If you are in the area, please continue to be vigilant and follow directions of emergency personnel.’
With extreme heat expected to continue across the region, officials warned the danger is far from over – and more communities could be placed at risk as the West battles another brutal wildfire season.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Spokane Police Department for comment.
