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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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Wildfires burning across the Spokane, Washington, area have scorched more than 10,000 acres and damaged or destroyed at least 700 structures, forcing about 60,000 people to evacuate in a disaster that officials warn is drawing comparisons to Southern California’s catastrophic Palisades and Eaton fires.
The Spokane County Sheriff's Office issued a Tuesday update, saying that the acreage burned has grown to 10,280 acres spread across three fires, which are zero percent contained. Cooler temperatures and increased relative humidity have aided firefighter efforts early this week.
The comparison highlights the severe neighborhood-level destruction. The Palisades fire, which ignited in Pacific Palisades on January 7, 2025, and was fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds, burned 23,448 acres across parts of Malibu and Topanga, destroying 6,845 structures and killing 12 people before it was fully contained later that month.
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While the Washington fires are far smaller in acreage, the scale of neighborhood damage recalls the destruction seen during the Palisades disaster. The blazes arrive amid what Washington Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove termed an "extraordinary fire season" across the Pacific Northwest, deploying thousands of personnel statewide.
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Unlike remote forest fires, the Spokane-area blazes have pushed directly into densely populated communities, reducing homes and businesses to ash and displacing tens of thousands of residents. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency and imposed a statewide burn ban amid persistent extreme fire weather. The statewide emergency comes as the Old Trails, Fairview and Autumn Lane fires remain uncontained and continue to threaten homes and businesses across Spokane and Stevens counties.
"What we're hearing ... at scale, is this is at the same level of an Altadena Eaton Fire or a Palisades sort of event," Benjamin Cossel, a spokesperson for the California Interagency Incident Management Team 7, said in a CBS News report. "We know we have more than 600 structures that have been destroyed, and we're very certain that that number will increase as firefighters are able to get into areas that they couldn't get into before because it was just too hot."
Before and After the Blaze
Footage captured by members of the public and posted on social media shows the sheer scale of destruction caused by the Spokane-area wildfires, with entire neighborhoods transformed into blackened landscapes of ash, debris and burned-out homes.
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Spokane Fires Live Tracker Maps
The Spokane-area fires exploded over the weekend amid a dangerous combination of hot, dry and windy weather that officials had warned could create extreme fire behavior. Before fire conditions worsened over the weekend, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Warning for parts of eastern Washington, forecasting wind gusts of 40 to 50 miles per hour and relative humidity levels as low as 15 to 20 percent.
Those conditions rapidly dried vegetation and allowed flames to spread quickly across grasslands, timber and developed areas, helping drive the Old Trails, Fairview and Autumn Lane fires into nearby neighborhoods.
Spokane County emergency officials said unusually warm winter conditions and a lack of normal snowpack have left fuels far drier than normal for this point in the year: "We did not have the snowpack that we normally have. ... We're actually about 6 weeks ahead in terms of conditions," Spokane County Emergency Management Deputy Director Chandra Fox told CNN in an interview. "Where we're at today are conditions we normally see at the end of August or into September. So we're very concerned that not only are we under heightened risk, we're also potentially looking at fires well into October."
Newsweek reached out to the firefighting incident team by email for comment.
Washington is experiencing its fourth consecutive statewide drought. According to state officials, more than 1,000 fires had burned roughly 425,000 acres statewide by the beginning of August, making it the state's most active fire season since 2021 by acreage burned.
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Spokane Temperatures
On Monday, temperatures were lower at around 61 degrees Fahrenheit, according to animated weather footage maps from windy.com.
Fire officials have warned that while cooler weather may provide some short-term relief, forecast temperatures in the mid- to upper 90s and humidity levels in the lower teens later this week could create conditions for renewed extreme fire behavior
Spokane Humidity, Dry Fuels
Meanwhile, humidity was higher on Monday morning, with NWS Spokane reporting 44 percent humidity at the Spokane International Airport, which could aid suppression efforts.
However, fuels remain dry across the region, according to windy.com.
Spokane Wind Gusts
Winds were calmer as well, with wind gust speeds at around 9 mph, less than the strong gusts that hit over the weekend. Winds could pick up later on Monday and as the week progresses, though.
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Spokane Fire Danger
Danger for fire spread around the Spokane area remains "very high," windy.com warned. AccuWeather forecasts the wildfire threat will remain high across much of the Pacific Northwest this week despite somewhat lighter winds because drought conditions and extremely dry vegetation persist across the region. Forecasters also warn that dry thunderstorms could ignite additional fires.
Spokane Wildfire Smoke
Wildfire smoke is also prolific across the area, prompting alerts and guidance for people in the area to remain indoors.
"An Air Quality Alert has also been issued for Grant, Lincoln, and Spokane counties until further notice due to expected smoke impacts from ongoing and emerging fires," NWS Spokane said in an air quality alert. "PM2.5 may reach unhealthy levels. When air quality is unhealthy, everyone should reduce exposure. Limit time outside, avoid strenuous outdoor activity, and follow tips for cleaner indoor air."
PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller, making the particles about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair. These microscopic pollutants, which are commonly produced by wildfire smoke, vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions and other forms of combustion, are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and can even enter the bloodstream. Because of their size, PM2.5 particles are considered one of the most harmful forms of air pollution and have been linked to breathing problems, worsened asthma, heart disease and other serious health effects, particularly among children, older adults and people with preexisting health conditions.
Spokane Fires Evacuation Maps
Evacuation orders have expanded rapidly across the Spokane area as multiple fast-moving wildfires, including the Old Trails fire, burned into neighborhoods on the city's northwestern edge.
Authorities issued Level 3 "Go Now" orders for thousands of residents, forcing families to leave with little notice as flames driven by strong winds threatened homes, businesses and critical infrastructure. Emergency shelters were opened for displaced residents, while some medical facilities, including a Veterans Affairs hospital, relocated patients as a precaution. Officials have urged people to stay out of evacuation zones, warning that fire conditions can change quickly and that roads, power lines and other infrastructure may pose additional hazards as crews continue battling the blazes.
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What Happens Next
Forecasters expect winds to ease somewhat this week, but officials warn the threat is far from over. AccuWeather says wildfire danger will remain very high across the Pacific Northwest because of widespread drought and exceptionally dry fuels. A strengthening heat dome is expected to bring another round of heat later this week, with temperatures climbing back into the 90s across much of the region.
Emergency managers continue to assess damage from the Old Trails, Fairview and Autumn Lane fires while firefighters work to protect threatened communities. Authorities have urged residents to monitor evacuation alerts and air-quality advisories as smoke and fire activity continue to affect the area.
Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Jason Lemon and Anthony Murray.
Update 8/4/26, 3:33 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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