Wildfires devastate Spokane, Washington

Widespread wildfires across Washington state have scorched over one million acres, forcing mass evacuations and power outages for 60,000 residents in the Spokane area. As of early August 2026, over 4,000 firefighters are battling at least 10 major blazes. Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide emergency and implemented a total burn ban to prevent further ignition.

In Spokane, a city of 230,000, the 'Old Trails Fire' has spread across 12,000 to 21,800 acres, jumping the Spokane River and threatening 4,000 homes. Mayor Lisa Brown confirmed that hundreds of buildings have been destroyed, describing the scene as heartbreaking. While initial reports from Commissioner Dave Updegrove and Sheriff John Nowels indicated no confirmed casualties, officials are still assessing the ruins and warn that the death toll could rise given the scale of the destruction.

Local utility company Avista continues to manage power grid failures as emergency services work to contain the active fires. Authorities remain in a state of high alert as they navigate the containment efforts and search for potential victims amidst the charred remains of residential structures.