The Spokane-area fires have scorched more than 8,000 acres (3,200 hectares) since igniting Aug. 1 on the northern edge of Spokane, a city of about 230,000 near the Idaho border and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills.
As of Aug. 4, three large wildfires had covered more than 16 square miles and forced more than 65,000 people to flee their homes, officials said. Police arrested a 37-year-old man on a charge of igniting the Old Trails Fire, the largest of the three blazes.
No deaths or injuries had been reported as of Aug. 4, but officials said that could change as fire activity subsides and search crews gain access to devastated areas that remain inaccessible.
Where major wildfires are burning in the Pacific Northwest
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How US wildfires have changed year by year
The United States is experiencing one of its worst wildfire seasons. About 5.5 million acres had burned nationwide by early August 2026, already exceeding the total acreage burned during all of 2025, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The Pacific Northwest, Northern Rockies, and parts of the West have seen elevated fire danger because of hot, dry, and windy conditions.
Where wildfires are raging in Spokane
Since Aug. 1, the Autumn Lane Fire, the largest of the three fires, has grown by more than 2,000 acres, reaching more than 5,800 acres by Wednesday. The Old Trails Fire has burned about 3,600 acres northwest of Spokane after rapidly advancing through grass and brush, crossing the Spokane River and reaching residential neighborhoods.
Firefighters are focused on containing the blazes and preventing the Autumn Lane and Old Trails fires from merging. As of Aug. 5, the Autumn Lane and Old trails fires are 13% contained, and the Fairview Fire is 5% contained, according to local government agencies.
Nearly 67,000 residents remain under evacuation orders as the uncontained wildfires continue burning near Spokane. Officials say residents may not be able to return to evacuated neighborhoods for days or weeks, according to The Seattle Times.
Before and after imagery shows wildfire destruction
The three fires together became the nation’s top firefighting priority, surpassing even the drought-stricken Pacific Northwest, where dozens of major wildfires have been burning for weeks and contributing to worsening air quality across a vast region.
More than a half-dozen residents whose homes were destroyed said they received prompt emergency notifications that gave them enough time to flee safely.
Neighborhood damage from Old Trails Fire
Contributing: Christopher Cann/USA TODAY