Wildfires driven by fierce winds and parched conditions tore through Spokane this weekend, leaving neighborhoods charred and officials saying hundreds of structures have been destroyed.
Authorities ordered thousands of residents to evacuate Saturday and through the night into Sunday as three separate blazes erupted in and around the city in eastern Washington state.
In the lead-up, the National Weather Service (NWS) cautioned that the region faced “extremely critical fire weather conditions,” pointing to strong winds combined with exceptional dryness.
A Virgin Mary statue remains untouched in front of a burned out residential home in the Balboa neighborhood
Footage from Sunday’s aftermath captured block after block of homes leveled to ashes—many reduced to little more than brick fireplaces and bare foundations—while nearby houses appeared largely untouched, highlighting the erratic paths the flames carved through communities.
“Just driving around looking at the homes – it’s just one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Spokane resident Geoff Beadles, who evacuated with his fiancee and their two dogs.
Members of the Spokane Fire Department
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown said at a press briefing yesterday afternoon that the damage tally was already staggering. “Hundreds of homes and structures have been lost. We are still assessing the potential for lives to be lost,” she said.
Addressing families displaced by the fires, Brown added: “To the people who are suffering right now in our region from either loss or uncertainty… our hearts go out to you. We are here for you for the long term.”
Although conditions improved yesterday as winds eased, officials said the fires remained at zero percent contained.
A a state of emergency has been declared
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said there had been no reported deaths or injuries so far, but warned that could change as crews gain access to damaged areas. “Because of the scale of this and what it takes to… do those kinds of investigations in an active fire scene, that could change,” he said.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, who has declared a state of emergency, said the crisis is unfolding as the state suffers a fourth straight year of drought, with climate change contributing to conditions that can fuel destructive wildfires.
Ferguson told the same briefing he had been in touch with federal officials about bringing in resources to respond, including US President Donald Trump, who he said understood “how dire the situation is”.
‘Extraordinary wildfire season’
David Upthegrove, who leads Washington’s Department of Natural Resources, said Spokane’s fire activity is part of a broader statewide emergency. The blaze there, he noted, is “one of 15 major fires burning throughout the state of Washington right now”.
“This is an extraordinary wildfire season in the Pacific Northwest. It’s not a normal season,” Upthegrove said.
He described a system under strain as multiple incidents flare across the West. “A confluence of weather conditions, a confluence of fires throughout the West, are stretching our resources and challenging the individuals in this response.”
The largest of Spokane’s three fires, the Old Trails fire, surged across the Spokane River Saturday afternoon and pushed into the city itself.
Resident Tena Risley said she spotted flames rising behind trees near her home and rushed to leave, grabbing her dog and a few belongings. In the scramble to escape, she became trapped in heavy traffic as fast-moving fire cut off routes out of the city.
“There were probably hundreds and hundreds of cars,” she said.
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