Photos: Wildfires in Spokane lead to thousands of evacuations
Three wildfires burning simultaneously near Spokane, Washington, have forced roughly 60,000 people to evacuate, in one of the most destructive fire events to hit the Pacific Northwest city in recent memory. The Old Trails, Autumn Lane and Fairview fires broke out around 1–2 August 2026 and swept through residential areas on the outskirts of the region's second-largest city, prompting mass evacuation orders and a significant emergency response.
Together the blazes have burned more than 7,000 acres and destroyed approximately 600 homes, leaving entire neighbourhoods reduced to smouldering ruins. NPR's photo coverage shows burnt-out houses, destroyed vehicles and residents returning to survey what remains of their properties. Spokane has a population of more than 230,000, underscoring the scale of disruption caused by the fires, though details on casualties, weather conditions behind the outbreak and containment progress have not yet been reported.
In short
- Three wildfires near Spokane forced about 60,000 evacuations.
- Over 7,000 acres burned, roughly 600 homes destroyed.
- Fires struck Washington's second-largest city on 1–2 August 2026.
Explained simply
Spokane is a city in eastern Washington state, in the north-western United States. Its surrounding region includes homes and communities beyond the city centre, where wildfires can threaten both residents and property.
Wildfires are uncontrolled fires that spread through vegetation and can reach built-up areas. Local authorities issue evacuation orders when they judge that people may be at risk; emergency services then work to protect residents and respond to the fires.
The fires matter because they affect homes, neighbourhoods and people’s ability to remain in or return to their communities. The scale of evacuations and damage also puts pressure on emergency response and recovery efforts.