Spokane wildfires destroy 700+ structures as thousands remain under evacuation
Spokane wildfires destroy 700+ structures as thousands remain under evacuation
Download the AppSpokane wildfire destruction grows as crews prepare for another day of firefighting
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It has been another difficult day across eastern Washington as firefighters continued battling the devastating Spokane Complex fires.
Throughout the day, officials confirmed the number of destroyed structures has climbed to more than 700, with the potential for that number to reach 1,100 as damage assessments continue.
Fire officials also said the Autumn Lane Fire remains their top priority, while more than 60,000 people have been forced to evacuate since the fires erupted.
An American flag stands tall in the rubble as wildfires continue to scorch Spokane.
Crews from across Washington and neighboring states remained on the fire lines, supported by aerial firefighting resources whenever conditions allowed.
At the same time, wildfire smoke pushed air quality into the very unhealthy category in parts of the region, and officials again urged the public to keep drones out of restricted airspace after additional incursions disrupted firefighting operations.
FOX Weather will continue to track the latest on fire growth, containment, evacuations, weather conditions and recovery efforts. Stay with us for continuing LIVE updates as this historic wildfire event unfolds.
Fire officials are once again urging the public to keep drones grounded near the Spokane Complex fires after unauthorized drone activity continued to interfere with firefighting operations today.
When a drone enters the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over an active wildfire, firefighting aircraft may be forced to stop flying until the airspace is clear, delaying critical water and retardant drops while flames continue to spread. Officials say every interruption puts firefighters and nearby communities at greater risk.
The reminder comes after officials reported 26 drone incursions over the Spokane fires on Sunday and emphasized that anyone flying a drone in the restricted airspace could face enforcement action.
Their message remains clear: "If you fly, we can't."
New video from Spokane Valley Fire Department's Engine 9 captures the intense conditions firefighters faced while battling the fast-moving Old Trails Fire.
The footage shows crews working in heavy smoke and active flames as they fought to protect homes and stop the wildfire from spreading farther. It's a firsthand look at the challenging conditions firefighters have endured during one of eastern Washington's most destructive wildfire events in recent years.
Watch the video above to see what crews encountered on the fire line.
The Spokane Valley Fire Department said it had 72 firefighters on duty Monday — the highest staffing level for a single day in the department's history — as crews continue battling the devastating Spokane Complex fires.
While all fire stations remain fully staffed, additional engines and brush trucks have been deployed to the Autumn Lane and Old Trails fires, including academy recruits and instructors who have joined the response.
The department said its crews are working alongside nearly 900 firefighters from across the region to protect lives, homes and critical infrastructure as the historic wildfire response continues.
Dramatic video shows large flames burning alongside a roadway in Spokane, Washington, as firefighters continue battling multiple fast-moving wildfires across the region.
The wall of flames highlights the dangerous conditions crews have been facing, with strong winds and extremely dry vegetation allowing fires to rapidly grow and threaten nearby communities.
More than 700 structures have now been confirmed destroyed, with officials warning the total could increase as crews continue assessing damage.
As crews continue battling the Spokane-area wildfires, one of the most common questions is what it means when officials say a fire is "contained."
Containment is more complicated than it seems, and it's not the same as control. A wildfire's containment percentage refers to how much of the fire's perimeter has a completed containment line—such as a firebreak or natural barrier—that firefighters believe can keep the flames from spreading under current conditions.
A fire can still be actively burning within those lines, and flare-ups remain possible.
The difference between a contained or controlled wildfire.
A fire isn't considered fully under control simply because it reaches a certain containment percentage. Firefighters must continue strengthening containment lines, extinguishing hot spots and monitoring for changing weather conditions that could cause the fire to spread again.
That's why containment matters. As the percentage increases, it generally means firefighters are making progress in limiting a wildfire's spread and reducing the threat to nearby communities.
But until a fire reaches 100% containment and crews are confident it will remain within its established perimeter, it can still pose a danger—especially during periods of hot, dry and windy weather.
The destruction from the Spokane-area wildfires continues, with officials now confirming more than 700 structures have been destroyed across the region.
Fire officials cautioned that the final toll could climb significantly, saying as many as 1,100 structures may have been lost, though crews are still conducting damage assessments and working to determine the full extent of the devastation.
During a press briefing, officials said the Autumn Lane Fire remains their top priority because of its continued threat to homes and nearby communities.
Firefighters responding to the Spokane wildfires.
They also confirmed that more than 60,000 residents were evacuated as the fast-moving wildfires tore through eastern Washington.
Firefighters continue working around the clock to protect remaining homes while damage assessments and suppression efforts continue.
New photos from eastern Washington capture the devastating toll the Spokane-area wildfires have taken on neighborhoods, with homes reduced to ash, vehicles burned beyond recognition and entire communities left unrecognizable.
The images offer a sobering look at the destruction left behind after fast-moving flames swept through the region, where more than 700 structures have been destroyed and tens of thousands of residents have been forced to flee.
Structure reduced to rubble amid Spokane-area wildfires.
Car burned beyond recognition in Spokane neighborhood.
A statue stands tall amid the rubble in Spokane.
As firefighters continue battling the blazes, crews are still working to assess the full extent of the damage and help communities begin the long road to recovery.
The devastating wildfires burning around Spokane are drawing comparisons to some of the region's most destructive fire seasons over the past several decades.
The most recent benchmark came in 2023, when the Gray Fire and Oregon Road Fire erupted just hours apart, scorching more than 20,000 acres, destroying more than 600 structures. Those fires reshaped communities around Medical Lake and became one of the most destructive wildfire disasters in Washington history.
Before that, the region was rocked by the 2016 Spokane Complex Fires - the Yale Road Fire and the Wellesley Fire - which burned through neighborhoods in Wenatchee, destroying about a dozen homes.
Recent Spokane-area wildfires.
Many longtime residents may also remember the 1991 Firestorm, when more than 90 wind-driven fires ignited across Spokane County and northern Idaho on the same day. The fires destroyed 114 structures, claimed two lives and forced widespread evacuations and fundamentally changed how the region prepares for and responds to wildfires.
Now, with more than 600 structures already destroyed in the Old Trails, Autumn Lane and Fairview fires, the Spokane area is once again experiencing one of the most destructive wildfire events in its history, underscoring the increasing threat posed by extreme fire weather and rapidly spreading wildfires.
Devastation caused by Spokane-area wildfires.
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources said the first few days of August have already made this one of the state's most challenging and devastating wildfire seasons in years.
In a social media post Monday, the agency said firefighters spent the weekend battling numerous fast-moving wildfires fueled by powerful winds and critically dry conditions.
Officials specifically highlighted the devastation in the Spokane area, on the Colville Reservation and near Tonasket, where thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate and hundreds of structures have been destroyed.
DNR said crews are working alongside local, state and out-of-state partners on the ground and in the air to bring the fires under control. The agency is also urging residents to do their part by following the statewide burn ban, practicing fire safety and heeding evacuation orders and other instructions from local officials.
"Our crews...are working tirelessly...to get these fires under control as quickly and safely as possible," the agency said.
New satellite imagery highlights the enormous footprint of the wildfires burning around Spokane, showing thick plumes of smoke stretching far beyond eastern Washington.
The imagery offers a stark reminder of the fires' rapid growth over the past several days as crews continue battling the Old Trails, Autumn Lane and Fairview fires. Together, the blazes have destroyed hundreds of structures, forced thousands of evacuations and blanketed much of the Northwest in hazardous wildfire smoke.
Watch the satellite video above to see the smoke plume from space as firefighters work around the clock to slow the fires' advance.
Wildfire smoke expected in these areas on Tuesday.
If you live in Washington or the surrounding states, there is a strong likelihood that wildfire smoke will impact your area tomorrow.
Here is a map that shows which cities and towns will see the worst impacts.
Worst air quality in the U.S.
Smoke from the fast-moving wildfires burning around Spokane is creating dangerous air quality across parts of eastern Washington, with some communities reaching the "very unhealthy" category on the Air Quality Index.
The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency said wildfire smoke containing fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is expected to keep air quality ranging from unhealthy to very unhealthy through at least Tuesday.
A "very unhealthy" air quality rating means everyone may experience more serious health effects, not just those in sensitive groups.
Health officials recommend staying indoors as much as possible, keeping windows and doors closed, using an air purifier if available and avoiding strenuous outdoor activity until conditions improve.
Air Quality Alerts remain in effect for Spokane and several surrounding areas as smoke continues to spread across the Northwest.
The three major wildfires burning in the Spokane area have expanded significantly since they erupted Saturday, underscoring just how quickly the fire situation has escalated.
The Old Trails Fire has grown to more than 3,600 acres after racing through grass, brush and residential neighborhoods northwest of Spokane. It continues to threaten thousands of structures and remains 0% contained.
The Autumn Lane Fire , burning near Nine Mile Falls, has also grown rapidly, expanding to more than 4,300 acres. Hundreds of firefighters are assigned to the blaze as crews work to protect nearby homes and infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Fairview Fire near Mead has surpassed 1,000 acres and also remains 0% contained, with firefighters continuing structure protection efforts as the fire burns through dry fuels.
Combined, the three fires have burned more than 7,500 acres, destroyed hundreds of structures and forced thousands of residents from their homes. Fire officials say continued hot, dry conditions mean the fires could remain active even as winds ease, making full containment a difficult task.
As wildfires continue to devastate communities around Spokane, firefighters from across Washington and neighboring states are stepping up to help exhausted local crews.
The Colfax Fire Department, located about 70 miles south of Spokane, shared photos from the fire lines showing firefighters working in smoky conditions as they assist with the response.
The images highlight the scale of the operation and the teamwork required to battle multiple fast-moving fires.
The Spokane-area wildfires have prompted one of the largest firefighting responses in recent memory, with hundreds of firefighters from local, state and out-of-area agencies deployed to protect homes and communities. Officials say that number is expected to continue growing as additional resources arrive.
Wildfire smoke continues to create hazardous conditions across the Spokane area, with air quality reaching the "very unhealthy" category in some locations.
At this level, health officials warn that everyone may begin to experience health effects, while people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and pregnant people face an even greater risk.
Residents are urged to stay indoors as much as possible, keep windows and doors closed, use air filtration if available and avoid strenuous outdoor activity.
The thick smoke is expected to linger as firefighters continue battling multiple wildfires burning around the Spokane area, where more than 600 structures have already been destroyed.
New video from the Spokane area shows the staggering destruction left behind after fast-moving wildfires tore through neighborhoods over the weekend.
Rows of charred vehicles sit outside homes reduced to rubble as entire blocks bear the scars of the flames. Video demonstrates just how quickly the fires overwhelmed communities.
The latest damage assessment shows more than 600 structures have been destroyed as the Old Trails, Fairview and Autumn Lane fires continue to burn across eastern Washington. Thousands of residents remain under evacuation orders while firefighters work to gain the upper hand on the blazes.
This is what firefighters are up against on the front lines of the Spokane-area wildfires.
New video from the fire line offers a firsthand look at crews battling towering flames as multiple wind-driven wildfires continue to burn across eastern Washington.
The fires have destroyed at least 600 structures and forced thousands of residents to evacuate as firefighters work around the clock to protect homes and slow the flames' advance.
FOX Weather Meteorologist Craig Herrera reports from the ground in Spokane, Washington, with the latest conditions as up to 15 wildfires burn across the state and evacuations expand in the area.
Fire officials are urging the public to keep drones grounded after over two dozen unauthorized flights interfered with firefighting efforts around the Spokane-area wildfires.
The California Interagency Incident Management Team, which is helping manage the response, said crews tracked 26 drone incursions Monday within the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) covering the three active wildfires.
Officials say drones pose a serious safety risk to firefighting aircraft. If a drone is spotted inside the restricted airspace, the incident commander must immediately ground water-dropping helicopters and air tankers until the area is deemed safe.
"If you fly, we can't" has long been the message from wildfire officials, who warn that even a single drone can delay critical aerial firefighting operations as crews work to slow the spread of the fires.
Authorities say flying a drone inside a wildfire TFR can result in fines of up to $10,000, and operators could face additional penalties depending on the circumstances.
The destruction from the wildfires burning around the Spokane area continues to mount.
Officials say at least 600 structures have been destroyed as multiple fast-moving wildfires tore through neighborhoods, forcing thousands of residents to flee.
Spokane Valley Fire Department battles wildfires in Washington state.
The total includes homes, businesses and other buildings damaged or destroyed by the flames, though authorities caution the number could rise as crews gain access to burned areas.
Firefighters continue battling several active wildfires across eastern Washington, where hot, dry and windy conditions have fueled rapid fire growth.
Damage assessments are ongoing, and emergency officials are urging residents in evacuation zones to stay away until it is safe to return.
FOX News Multimedia Reporter Sarah Alegre speaks with Daniel Ramey, of CALFIRE Interagency Incident Management Team 7, about the latest on the wildfires.
The team has assumed command of the Spokane wildfires as of Sunday.
Smoke billows from a wildfire burning in Spokane on Aug. 2, 2026.
Several rapidly growing wildfires are burning around the Spokane, Washington, area, forcing thousands of residents from their homes as firefighters battle flames fueled by hot, dry and windy conditions.
Evacuation orders remain in effect for multiple communities, and officials say the fires have already destroyed structures while threatening many more.
Thick smoke has blanketed parts of eastern Washington, reducing visibility and creating hazardous air quality.
Fire crews are working around the clock as shifting winds continue to challenge containment efforts. Weather conditions will remain a key concern, with low humidity and gusty winds capable of driving additional fire growth.
FOX Weather will provide live updates throughout the day on evacuation orders, wildfire growth, road closures, firefighting efforts, weather conditions and when it's safe for residents to return home. Stay with us for the latest developments.
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