Fires in Spokane, Washington, burn 600 structures, force 60,000 evacuations | Climate News
Wildfires in Eastern Washington Force Evacuations, Destroy Homes
Published on August 3, 2026
Wildfires in eastern Washington have resulted in the evacuation of approximately 60,000 residents from the Spokane area and the destruction of at least 600 homes, businesses, and other structures, according to officials on Sunday.
The fires, which have charred about 21 square kilometers (8 square miles) over the weekend, are part of a series of wildfires affecting various parts of the Western United States. This surge in wildfire activity has stretched the resources of federal, state, and local agencies tasked with battling the blazes.
Across Washington state, nearly 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) have been consumed by flames, with several fires, including those near Spokane—Washington’s second-largest city—remaining uncontrolled.
Fire and law enforcement officials reported no injuries or missing persons thus far, but they cautioned that it is still early in the response effort.
Videos emerging from Spokane depict burning buildings and thick smoke billowing near residential areas, with damaged homes showing only chimneys standing amid the wreckage. Authorities have raised concerns about the potential for continued dry weather in the region over the coming days.
“We are not out of danger,” Senator Maria Cantwell said during a news conference in Spokane attended by federal, state, and local officials. “The next couple of days will be challenging.”
Investigators have not yet identified the causes of the wildfires.
Spokane is not alone in its struggle against the flames. In western Idaho and eastern Oregon, crews using bulldozers and helicopters have been battling a fire for the past ten days that has burned nearly 1,360 square kilometers (525 square miles) of grassland. Local authorities report that this fire is threatening more than 600 homes and 800 additional structures.
In central Utah, a significant wildfire more than doubled in size over the weekend, expanding from approximately 41 square kilometers (16 square miles) to 145 square kilometers (56 square miles) by Sunday morning. Local law enforcement has reported the loss of over 100 cattle as a result of that blaze.
