Log in
Log out
Spokane, WA Fires
Status: Monitoring
| Type of posting | Posting date(EST): | Summary | Downloads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Update 8/10 | 8/10/2026 1:00:00 PM |
|
Update 8/10 | Summary
Posting Date: August 10, 2026, 1:00:00 PM
A wind-driven urban firestorm tore through Spokane, Washington starting Saturday, August 1, becoming the most destructive wildfire in Washington state history as it leapt from building to building through residential neighborhoods. The blaze, part of what officials dubbed the Spokane Complex Fire — made up of the Old Trails, Fairview, and Autumn Lane fires — was fueled by sustained winds of 33 mph gusting to 44 mph, combined with 86-degree heat and relative humidity of just 20-25%. The Old Trails fire started on the West Plains, blew northeast into Riverside State Park, jumped the Spokane River, burned the Spokane Rifle Club, and then raced up the bluffs into neighborhoods including Indian Trail and Five Mile Prairie, leveling entire blocks and leaving little behind homes but foundations and charred metal. By Monday, the fires had burned 8,026 acres and remained at 0% containment, forcing the evacuation of roughly 65,000 people from the Spokane area.
Damage estimates grew over the following days as crews assessed the destruction. Initial reports Sunday put the toll at about 900 structures destroyed, including homes, according to the Washington State Emergency Operations Center, with Spokane County Fire District 3's chief attributing 694 of these to the Old Trails fire, 160 to the Autumn Lane fire, and 59 to the Fairview fire. Officials also indicated this number could still rise as more information becomes available. Remarkably, no deaths or injuries had been confirmed yet, though Spokane County's sheriff said his department had fielded around 290 calls about people to locate, narrowing that down to 14 unaccounted for as search efforts continued. A 37-year-old man was arrested and booked into Spokane County jail on arson charges connected to the Old Trails Fire. Spokane's mayor, Lisa Brown, called it "the worst natural disaster our region has faced," and Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency barring most outdoor and agricultural burning while pursuing federal disaster assistance.
The Verisk ALERT team is closely monitoring the wildfires in Washington state – while a loss estimate or other deliverables are not currently planned, we will provide updates as warranted in the coming days.
