Fast-moving wildfires driven by strong winds and soaring temperatures have forced thousands to evacuate eastern Washington. Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown called the blazes the worst natural disaster in the region’s history, with some 600 homes and buildings destroyed and nearly 8.2 square miles burned around the city.
Fifteen Major Fires and Quarter-Million Acres Burned Across Washington
The blazes sweeping through eastern Washington are part of a massive statewide wildfire emergency. Washington Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove reported at a news conference that 15 major fires were burning across the state on Sunday, scorching more than 250,000 acres. Approximately 4,000 people were involved in firefighting efforts statewide, according to Upthegrove, who described the situation as an extraordinary fire season in the Pacific Northwest.
In the Spokane area specifically, three major fires have driven the disaster: the Old Trails Fire, which broke out Saturday, the Fairview Fire, and the Autumn Lane Fire, which now includes the territory previously known as the Meadowview Fire. Orange and red flames were visible from highways as motorists lined the roads to flee their homes. The state has issued air quality warnings as a thick plume of smoke billows over the region. Firefighters had achieved zero containment as of Sunday afternoon.
Governor Declares State of Emergency as Federal Officials Mobilize Aid
Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency on Saturday after unusually high temperatures and high winds exacerbated record wildfires across the state.
Ferguson added that the state is here for the long haul.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Sunday that it authorized federal funds to help fight the Sinlahekin Fire, Fairview Fire, and Autumn Lane Fire. Ferguson also spoke with President Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin regarding additional federal assistance, expressing optimism about securing a federal emergency declaration.
Canyon Terrain and Turbulent Winds Hamper Firefighting Crews
Fire suppression efforts face severe geographical and meteorological obstacles in the Spokane area. Benjamin Cossel, a public information officer for a federal response team from California called in Saturday night, explained that local topography intensely aggravates the wind conditions.
The Spokane River cuts through the city of approximately 229,000 residents, flanked on both sides by steep canyons that channel the wind. Cossel noted that as daytime temperatures rise, cooler air that typically keeps winds down rises instead, allowing turbulent winds to sweep through the area. They push the fire through the canyons, up, up the slopes, and then outside the slopes and around,
Cossel said, describing the surroundings as very, very hilly, very, very steep slopes, a lot of canyons that create really turbulent, really challenging sort of wind scenarios.
The National Weather Service responded by issuing a particularly dangerous situation
red flag alert for eastern Washington. Courtney James, spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, urged residents to heed evacuation orders immediately amid rapidly changing conditions.
Tens of Thousands Lose Power as Utility Crews Remain Locked Out
Power company Avista implemented public safety shutoffs ahead of the elevated fire risk, though those specific measures had been restored by Sunday. However, extensive power outages persisted due to the active blazes. Avista CEO Heather Rosentrater stated Sunday that utility crews were still unable to access many affected areas because of ongoing fires and active evacuation orders.
At the peak of the outages, more than 30,000 customers lost power. While service had partially returned, a little over 10,000 customers remained without electricity as of Sunday evening. Rosentrater warned that remaining customers could lose power during peak energy hours due to diminished capacity, though she stated she does not believe Avista’s facilities sparked any of the Spokane-area fires. Authorities confirmed that the exact cause of the blazes remains under investigation.
Assessing Unresolved Risks and Ongoing Evacuations in Eastern Washington
While no deaths have been reported so far in the Spokane area, Mayor Lisa Brown cautioned that local officials are still assessing the potential for lives to be lost.
With zero containment achieved and weather conditions expected to persist, Representative Michael Baumgartner, representing Washington’s 5th Congressional District, warned on Sunday that the immediate forecast offers little relief.
It doesn’t look like the weather is getting much better for the next few days,
Baumgartner said, urging everyone in the region to stay alert as emergency response teams continue battling the fires.
