Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Firefighters gain ground against Spokane wildfires as heat returns
Big fires have been burning near a city called Spokane in Washington state.
The fires started on Saturday and grew very large because of strong winds and unusually hot, dry weather.
As many as 64,000 people had to leave their homes to stay safe.
The fires have burned more than 10,000 acres of land and destroyed at least 700 buildings, most of them homes.
Luckily, nobody has been hurt, and the 14 people who were missing at first have all been found safe.
Firefighters worked very hard and built lines to help stop the fire from spreading.
But the fires are not completely stopped yet, and firefighters are still working to make the lines stronger.
Soon it will get very hot and dry again, which will make fighting the fires harder.
One person has been arrested and charged with starting one of the fires on purpose, and the other two fires are still being looked into.
Firefighters near Spokane, Washington made significant progress against three wildfires but had not achieved full containment as of Wednesday.
The blazes have destroyed at least 700 structures, mostly homes, and forced up to 64,000 people from their homes since Saturday.
No casualties have been reported, and all 14 people initially reported missing in the fire zone have been accounted for as safe.
Authorities charged Aaron Farinacci, 37, with arson in connection with one of the fires, while the cause of the other two remains under investigation.
Forecasts call for temperatures to climb into the mid-to-upper 90s Fahrenheit with low humidity, testing firefighters' gains over the weekend.
- Who
- Firefighters and the Spokane-area fire command battling the blazes; police arrested Aaron Farinacci, 37, on an arson charge linked to one of the fires.
- What
- Three wildfires near Spokane, Washington destroyed hundreds of buildings, forced tens of thousands to evacuate, and continued burning without full containment.
- When
- The fires began burning since Saturday, with crews making major progress on Monday and Tuesday; the report was filed on August 5.
- Where
- On the northern fringe of Spokane, Washington, the state's second-most populous city, near the Idaho border.
- Why
- The fires were fueled by high winds and unusually hot, arid conditions; one fire is blamed on arson, and scientists attribute heightened wildfire activity to climate change-driven drought and extreme heat.
- Location
- Spokane, Washington
- Area burned
- More than 10,000 acres (4,047 hectares)
- Structures destroyed
- At least 700 buildings, the bulk of them homes
- Structures damaged
- Up to 400 more buildings heavily damaged or destroyed
- Peak evacuations
- Up to 64,000 people
- Casualties
- None reported; all 14 missing people accounted for
- Arson arrest
- Aaron Farinacci, 37, charged with arson in one fire
- National context
- 94 major wildfires burning in 13 U.S. states