Topline
Thousands of residents in eastern Washington have been ordered to evacuate after multiple wildfires erupted Saturday and raced across parts of Spokane County, where forecasters warn that “very dry conditions” and gusty winds could further fuel the fast-moving flames.
Washington is enduring a severe wildfire season, with state officials reporting that roughly 425,000 acres have already burned.
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Key Facts
At least three significant wildfires are burning near Spokane and remain 0% contained, according to government data: the Fairview Fire northeast of the city, along with the Autumn Lane Fire and Old Trails Fire, both situated roughly northwest of Spokane.
Together, the three Spokane-area fires have scorched an estimated 5,390 acres so far, Courtney James, a spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, told Forbes.
James said officials had not yet determined the full extent of structural damage, noting that fire crews were still trying to “get a handle on the fires which were exacerbated by extreme weather conditions yesterday.”
Other officials have estimated that more than 600 structures have been destroyed, multiple outlets reported, though it remains unclear how many of those buildings were homes.
Thousands of people across Spokane County remained under “Level 3” evacuation orders—meaning they should “leave now”—on Sunday, according to the county’s evacuation map.
An estimated 900 personnel are on the scene fighting the three blazes, James told Forbes, and more were still on their way to assist.
Big Number
425,000 acres. That’s how much land wildfires have burned in Washington so far this year in a particularly brutal fire season, according to Washington’s Department of National Resources. The state has seen over 1,000 wildfires so far this year, according to an update from officials on Friday, burning the most acres since 2021. Before Saturday’s blazes, firefighters were still working elsewhere in the state to contain 10 large fires burning across about 225,000 acres, according to an earlier statement.
Weather Could Exacerbate the Fires
The National Weather Service previously issued a “particularly dangerous situation” alert for eastern Washington on Friday, warning that wind gusts reaching up to 50 miles an hour could cause new fires to grow rapidly. The NWS is now predicting “elevated fire weather” for Sunday, including 20-35 mph wind gusts and “very dry” conditions with 20-30% humidity.
