Wildfire burning in Spokane, WA prompts evacuation orders

WA wildfire roundup: Weather accelerates evacuations, burn areas

Multiple large wildfires are raging in Washington state as the National Weather Service issues a first-ever “Particularly Dangerous Situation” alert for Washington due to wildfire conditions. FOX 13 meteorologist Ilona McCauley walks through how weather is impacting the spread and fight of wildfires while anchor Taylor Winkel breaks down state responses to the flames.

SPOKANE, Wash. – Emergency responders in Spokane County issued emergency Level 3 evacuation orders over the weekend as crews battled the fast-moving Old Trails Fire during elevated fire weather conditions.

Fire Operations and Evacuation Orders

What we know:

Spokane Fire District 10 crews responded to a wildland blaze known as the Old Trails Fire on Aug. 1. It continued to grow in size and intensity near populated areas on Sunday.

By Sunday morning, the fire had burned more than 3,600 acres, up from 2,300 acres reported on Saturday night. The burn area accelerated when, by 8:45 p.m. on Aug. 1, firefighters reported the flames jumped the road at West Nine Mile Road and West Francis Avenue heading north. 

There is a secondary fire nearby, the Autumn Lane Fire, just north-west of Spokane. As of Sunday afternoon, it had burned more than 3,300 acres.

Emergency officials progressively issued Level 3 “Leave NOW!” evacuation notices throughout the afternoon as life-threatening conditions developed.

Old Trails fire evacuation map as of Aug. 2, 2026.

The evacuation zones include areas bounded by Newkirk Road to the north, Trails to the south, Dowdy to the east and Westwood to the west, as well as Newkirk Road to the north, Trails to the south, North Hayford Road to the west and West Euclid Road to the east. Additional Level 3 orders expanded to Woodside on the north, Trails on the south, the Spokane River on the west and Nine Mile/Assembly on the east.

By later Saturday evening, the evacuation zones included all areas west of Okanogan River and north to Oroville, including Palmer Mountain.

Level 2 “Be Set” evacuation orders were put in place for Pine Bluff area just south of Trautman Conservation Area east to North Seven Mile Road and west to North Dover Road. 

An area downgraded to Level 1 “Be Ready” evacuation order was the area between North Carstens Road and North Dover Road above West Prewett Road. This includes the McLellan Conservation Area. 

Officials instructed fleeing drivers not to enter the fire evacuation zone and to head eastbound using side streets. An evacuation shelter opened at Spokane Falls Community College in the small gym located at 3410 W. Whistalks Way. Current evacuation maps are available through Spokane County Emergency Management. 

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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