Spokane-area wildfires leave hundreds of structures destroyed as evacuations continue

Three wind-driven wildfires near Spokane have destroyed a preliminary estimate of roughly 600 to 640 structures and prompted evacuations affecting about 60,000 people, according to reports and officials cited Sunday, August 2, 2026. The figures may change as crews and inspectors reach damaged areas.

The Old Trails, Fairview and Meadowview fires are being managed collectively as the Spokane Complex. The reported structure total includes homes, businesses and other structures; it should not be read as a count of 600 or 640 homes. Officials had not publicly established a final damage assessment in the sources reviewed for this article.

The emergency is concentrated in Spokane and Spokane County, but its scale has statewide consequences for Washington’s fire response, transportation network, health services, utilities, schools and displaced residents. Evacuation boundaries and access conditions can change quickly, so residents should rely on current official alerts and maps rather than early news reports or social-media posts.

What burned and what is known about the damage

The Old Trails Fire spread rapidly in the Spokane area before crossing the Spokane River. The Fairview and Meadowview fires were also burning nearby, and officials began treating the three incidents as one complex for response and public information.

Associated Press reporting described strong winds and hot, dry conditions that helped the fires spread. The structure-loss figure remains preliminary, and the sources reviewed did not provide a verified breakdown of homes, businesses, garages, sheds or other structures.

No deaths or injuries were identified in the sources reviewed for this article. The cause of the fires also had not been established publicly. Those facts may change as investigations and damage assessments continue.

Check your evacuation level before traveling

Spokane County uses three evacuation levels:

Level 3 — Go: Leave immediately because there is an immediate threat to life and emergency services may not be able to assist.
Level 2 — Get set: Be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. People who need extra time, including households with pets, livestock, children, older adults or medical needs, are encouraged to leave early.
Level 1 — Get ready: Prepare to leave because conditions could worsen.

Residents should check their address on the current Spokane-area fire evacuation map and subscribe to Alert Spokane. This article does not list individual evacuation zones because official boundaries can be expanded, reduced or changed as fire behavior and road conditions change.

A Level 3 order means residents should leave immediately and should not return until officials authorize reentry. Residents in Level 2 areas should be prepared to leave without delay, while people in Level 1 areas should assemble essential items and monitor alerts.

Roads, services and reentry

Current road closures, bridge access, transit changes, school disruptions and power outages should be checked through the relevant local or state agency before anyone travels. The available sources for this article did not provide a sufficiently current, verified list of those conditions for publication.

People outside evacuation areas should avoid entering restricted zones. Fire crews, emergency vehicles and damage-assessment teams need access, and roads may be blocked or unsafe because of fire, smoke, debris, damaged structures or downed utility equipment.

Residents returning after an evacuation should wait for official reentry authorization. They should be prepared for smoke, unsafe buildings, damaged utilities and limited neighborhood access. Do not enter a damaged structure or reconnect utilities unless officials or qualified professionals say it is safe.

Help for displaced Washington residents

Washington’s wildfire resource page directs displaced residents to current evacuation information, shelters, emergency contacts, temporary housing and other assistance. Shelter locations and capacity can change, so residents should confirm details with official sources before traveling.

The state resource page says Washington Apple Health clients whose medications, medical supplies or medical equipment were lost, destroyed or made inaccessible because of a fire or evacuation may receive replacement items from providers without prior authorization under state guidance. Residents should contact their provider or Apple Health support channels for instructions.

State guidance also points residents to assistance involving food and cash benefits, insurance claims, replacement identification documents, business and tax help, unemployment assistance and animal-response resources. Eligibility and availability vary, and residents should use the current state and county instructions rather than assume every program applies automatically.

People evacuating should take identification, medications, important documents, phone chargers, food, water, clothing and supplies for pets or service animals. Spokane County advises residents who need help evacuating pets or livestock to call 911.

What happens next

Fire officials will continue updating evacuation levels, fire status, structure assessments and access conditions as crews work around the Spokane Complex. The current evacuation and structure figures are preliminary and may change.

Residents should monitor Alert Spokane, Spokane County Emergency Management, the Washington Department of Natural Resources wildfire portal and official fire updates. People outside Spokane should avoid unnecessary travel into affected areas and follow smoke and air-quality guidance from public-health officials.

Sources

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