Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Spokane wildfire forces thousands to flee, destroys 700 buildings
Big fires started near a city called Spokane in the United States.
The fires began on Saturday and have been spreading ever since.
The flames have burned more than 8,000 acres of land.
They have also destroyed at least 700 buildings, including many homes.
Tens of thousands of people had to leave their houses quickly to stay safe.
About 64,000 people were told to evacuate, which is a lot more than the day before.
Firefighters are working very hard, but so far they have not been able to stop the fires.
No one has been hurt or killed yet, but officials think that could change.
The fires started because of very dry and hot weather, and scientists say climate change makes such fires more likely.
Wildfires on the outskirts of Spokane, Washington, have destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.
About 64,000 people were under immediate evacuation orders as of Monday, up from 4,000 a day earlier.
The cluster of three blazes has blackened more than 8,000 acres (3,200 hectares) since erupting Saturday, with zero containment as of Monday.
No injuries or fatalities have been reported so far, though officials say there is a high probability that will change as search teams reach devastated areas.
The fires ranked as the top firefighting priority in the U.S., with roughly 1,100 firefighters battling the blazes.
- Who
- Residents of Spokane, Washington, such as Kami Fehlig, along with firefighters and officials including incident command spokesperson Benjamin Cossel and Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove.
- What
- A cluster of three wildfires destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate.
- When
- The fires erupted on Saturday and were still burning on Monday, their third day.
- Where
- On the outskirts of Spokane, Washington, near the Idaho border and the Spokane River.
- Why
- The cause is under investigation; drought-parched conditions drove the fires, and scientists say prolonged drought and extreme heat are largely a function of human-caused climate change.
- Location
- Outskirts of Spokane, Washington, near the Idaho border
- Buildings destroyed
- At least 700, with possibly another 400 damaged or destroyed
- Acres burned
- More than 8,000 acres (3,200 hectares)
- Evacuations
- About 64,000 people under immediate evacuation orders as of Monday
- Containment
- Zero containment of all three blazes as of Monday
- Firefighters
- Roughly 1,100 assigned to the Spokane fires
- Injuries/fatalities
- None reported so far; an unspecified number of people reported missing
- Cause
- Under investigation