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• Get the latest on the wildfires in Washington state, here.
Key developments
• Washington wildfires: Hundreds of structures have been destroyed and at least 60,000 people evacuated as crews battle three major wildfires in Spokane County. No injuries or deaths have been confirmed, but officials said the scale of the fires means it will take time to fully assess.
• Ongoing battle: The three fires have burned more than 7,000 acres total with 0% containment since starting Saturday, officials said Sunday.
• Communities devastated: Evacuees described leaving home with little more than they could carry. Some have returned to burn areas and stepped through hot rubble to collect belongings. Others are anxiously waiting to be allowed back into their neighborhoods.
• Climate crisis: Fifteen major fires have burned more than 250,000 acres across Washington. The Pacific Northwest is facing its worst fire season in more than 30 years as climate change supercharges the conditions for destructive blazes.
Three fires burning and thousands evacuated in Spokane County. Here's the latest
Three wildfires tearing through Spokane County, Washington, have leveled hundreds of structures and driven nearly 65,000 families from their homes since Saturday.
Together, the Old Trails, Fairview and Autumn Lane fires have consumed more than 7,000 acres and remain entirely uncontained. Their causes are under investigation.
The Autumn Lane Fire, now the nation’s highest-priority blaze, surged downhill Sunday evening toward the Rutter Parkway area near Painted Rocks. Crews earlier described having “relatively decent control” of its perimeter, though the fire is far from subdued.
Here’s the latest:
- The human toll: No serious injuries or deaths have been confirmed related to the fires, but Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels stressed the count could rise as crews reach areas they haven’t yet been able to assess.
- A narrow window: Monday offers firefighters their best conditions in days – light winds and a high near 80 – but the break is brief. Temperatures climb back into the 90s by Wednesday, and with the ground bone-dry and no rain in sight, forecasters are watching Friday, when rising winds could again drive the fires.
- Families lose everything: Evacuees described fleeing with little more than they could carry. Some have returned to step through still-hot rubble in search of anything that survived. One resident who lost the home he had lived in since 1980 called recently moving his father into a nursing home a “blessing,” given the destruction.
- Incoming aid: More than 100 National Guard members are aiding the response, Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh said. Short-term FEMA aid is expected to be approved soon, and Gov. Bob Ferguson said the state is pressing for longer-term support.
CNN’s Julianna Bragg, Cindy Von Quednow, Maria Aguilar Prieto, August Phillips and Briana Waxman contributed reporting.
More than 700 homes destroyed, 65,000 families evacuated, official says
More than 700 homes have been destroyed and nearly 65,000 families have been forced to evacuate as wildfires rage across in the Spokane area, Washington state Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove told CNN early Monday.
Officials previously said at least 600 structures had been destroyed in the area, including outbuildings and other structures.
“The devastation is heartbreaking,” Upthegrove told CNN’s Polo Sandoval. “Behind every one of the dramatic images we’re seeing is a firefighter who’s been working for days, an emergency manager who’s making impossible decisions, families leaving behind everything they own to try to keep themselves safe.”
Upthegrove said it’s been “an extraordinary wildfire season” across the state, adding: “This is not normal.” But the state was well prepared – pre-positioning equipment, building a trained wildfire force and establishing mutual-aid agreements with neighboring states and federal partners, he said.
About 5,000 people are now responding to 15 major wildfires in the state, covering roughly a quarter-million acres, he said, with firefighters and equipment brought in from across the country and National Guard members activated.
“That’s why, despite the scale of these fires, and despite understanding the devastation, I remain hopeful. We have an enormous job ahead of us, but thousands of people are working together with one shared mission. And that is protecting lives and helping these communities rebuild,” Upthegrove said.
As the fires burn, a community is moving in to help
As flames tore through Spokane County neighborhoods this weekend, County Commissioner Josh Kerns watched his phone fill with messages. He was about two miles outside the evacuation zone, but neighbors kept reaching out anyway.
“I’ve had multiple people text me and say, ‘Hey, I know you live up that way. Is there anything you need? Do you need help?’” Kerns told CNN’s Ben Hunte.
That instinct, he said, was everywhere he looked. A local school district opened a day camp so displaced families could drop off children with free lunch provided. Restaurants and business owners sent food to survivors and to the crews on the fire lines. People offered spare rooms in their homes to those displaced.
“I live in one of the most amazing communities in the country.” Kerns said. “It’s unfortunate that it takes a devastating situation like this to really show just how caring folks are for each other here.”
The Autumn Lane Fire is pushing into the Painted Rocks area
The Autumn Lane Fire made a significant push downhill Sunday evening and has reached the Rutter Parkway area near Painted Rocks in Spokane County, Washington, officials said.
Crews from the district, with assistance from multiple partner agencies, are working to protect structures and support evacuation efforts, Spokane County Fire District 9 said.
Couple narrowly escapes Mitre Rock Fire after flames jump Spokane River
Tessa Anderson and her husband were beach camping across from McCoy’s Marina on the Spokane River when they saw a huge plume of smoke emerge from behind them.
Worrying for their safety, the couple decided to escape on their boat. Within 30 minutes, the Mitre Rock Fire was pushing toward where they were.
“Thankfully, we made it to the launch and got out of there,” Anderson told CNN.
Unauthorized drones are hampering firefighting efforts, officials say
Firefighters battling the flames in Spokane County recorded 26 drone incursions over active fire operations Sunday, officials said, disrupting the crews trying to contain the blazes.
When an unauthorized drone enters restricted airspace over a wildfire, helicopters and air tankers used by firefighters are often grounded until the airspace is clear, according to the official Spokane Area Fires Facebook page.
“Every minute those aircraft are unable to fly gives the fire more opportunity to grow, putting firefighters, communities, and property at greater risk,” the post said.
Two drone operators were identified and cited by the sheriff’s department, the post said.
“If you see smoke, keep your drone on the ground. No photo or video is worth delaying critical firefighting operations,” officials said.
Fires burning in Spokane County have 0% containment
The three wildfires burning in Spokane County have burned more than 7,000 acres combined and have 0% containment, fire officials said Sunday evening.
Crews have been attacking flames from the Old Trails Fire, the Fairview Fire and the Autumn Lane Fire since they started Saturday and quickly spread.
The cause of the fires is under investigation.
Spokane school district to host free camp for kids amid fires
Spokane Public Schools will run a free emergency day camp on Monday, giving parents displaced or disrupted by the wildfires somewhere safe to leave their children for a few hours.
The camp is set to run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Shadle Park High School and is open to children ages 4 and up, the district said in a news release. Lunch will be provided at no cost through a federal summer meals program.
“This is intended to give parents and caregivers impacted by wildfires a safe place for their children while they take a break, run errands, or address other immediate needs,” the news release said.
The district may open additional camp sites elsewhere in Spokane, the district added, depending on demand and how families respond to this first offering.
Devastating wildfires continue blazing through Washington — here's the latest
Three major wildfires in Spokane County, Washington, have destroyed hundreds of structures and forced at least 60,000 people to evacuate. Officials said the causes of the fires remain under investigation.
The Autumn Lane Fire prompted the largest response Sunday and remains active, but crews have “relatively decent control” of its boundaries, officials said.
Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh, the adjutant general of the Washington National Guard, has asked residents for patience as officials work to safely reopen affected areas and allow residents to return to their neighborhoods.
Here’s what you need to know:
- No reported injuries or deaths: No fire-related serious injuries or deaths have been reported, but the situation is ongoing and that number could change, Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said.
- Changing weather conditions: Firefighters will get their most favorable weather in several days Monday, with light winds and a high of 80 degrees, but the break won’t last as temperatures climb back into the 90s later this week.
- National Guard deployment: More than 100 National Guard members are assisting the Spokane County community, according to Welsh. He added safely returning affected residents will take “some time.”
- Locals lose everything: Some residents have returned to completely destroyed homes to collect any belongings that survived the blaze. One resident, who lived in his home since 1980 and recently moved his father into a nursing home, called the timing of the move a “blessing,” given the destruction caused by the fires.
- FEMA assistance: Short-term FEMA assistance is expected to be approved for Washington, and Gov. Bob Ferguson said the state is working to secure long-term aid. Washington will be prioritized for federal resources as the Autumn Lane Fire remains the highest-priority blaze in the nation, Sen. Maria Cantwell said.
- Widespread support: Washington state is also receiving assistance from crews from more than a dozen states and Australia, said Dave Upthegrove, the state’s commissioner of public lands.
- A call for help: Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown encouraged residents who are able to volunteer to help those affected by the wildfires, including by helping at the local Red Cross or contributing to local relief funds.
CNN’s Cindy Von Quednow, Maria Aguilar Prieto, August Phillips and Briana Waxman contributed reporting.
Spokane has some of the nation’s worst air as wildfire smoke spreads west
Thick wildfire smoke pushed Spokane’s air quality into the “very unhealthy” range Sunday, giving the city the second-worst air quality in the country behind Omak, Washington, about 150 miles to the northwest.
Spokane’s Air Quality Index reached 207 on Sunday, more than four times the upper limit for “good” air quality and high enough to affect even otherwise healthy people.
Wildfire smoke is the main driver of Spokane’s poor air quality, but the heat dome is also bringing the high temperatures, sun light and stagnant air that all help ozone form and accumulate near the ground.
Conditions are expected to worsen as light winds allow smoke to linger and accumulate through Tuesday, potentially pushing air quality into the hazardous range. The heat will also begin to build back on Tuesday through the end of this week.
Winds will reverse on Monday, switching from westerly to easterly, carrying smoke from the fires across the previously shielded interior Northwest toward Seattle and Portland. Both cities could experience air quality that is “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
The Cascades should prevent some of the smoke from reaching ground level in western Washington, but skies will become hazier and air quality could still deteriorate Monday night into Tuesday.
The combination of smoke and rising temperatures could force people without air conditioning to choose between opening windows for relief from the heat and keeping them closed to prevent smoke from getting inside.
Spokane neighborhood left devastated after wildfire
In Spokane’s Balboa neighborhood, rows of homes along a stretch of road were destroyed after powerful winds pushed the Old Trails Fire across the Spokane River and into the neighborhood.
Calmer weather Monday will aid Spokane firefighters, but heat rebuilds this week
Firefighters battling three major wildfires around Spokane will get their most favorable weather in several days Monday, but the break won’t last as temperatures climb back into the 90s later this week.
Monday will be sunny and dry, with a high near 80 degrees. Winds will be light, a significant improvement from the weekend, when fires exploded in size.
Saturday’s combination of exceptionally dry air and a powerful cold front produced sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts above 40 mph. Sunday was about 10 degrees cooler, and winds eased considerably, but occasional gusts still helped the fires spread.
The lighter winds Monday should give crews a better opportunity to strengthen containment lines. But fuels remain extremely dry, no meaningful rain is expected and thick wildfire smoke could continue to reduce air quality and visibility.
Temperatures will then rise quickly as high pressure builds along the Pacific Northwest coast. Spokane is forecast to warm to the mid-80s Tuesday, lower 90s Wednesday and mid-90s Thursday.
That warming will be driven by strong upper-level high pressure, commonly called a heat dome, rebuilding over the Pacific Northwest. The cold front responsible for Saturday’s extreme winds temporarily swept away the hottest air, but the strengthening heat dome will turn up the thermostat again.
Winds should remain relatively light through midweek, keeping fire weather less extreme than Saturday despite the returning heat. Friday is the next period to watch: Increasing winds could overlap with hot, bone-dry conditions to exacerbate fires.
Spencer Pratt, who lost home in Palisades Fire, offers advice to Spokane residents
Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate and reality TV personality Spencer Pratt, who lost his home in the Palisades Fire, expressed sympathy for residents affected by the Spokane County wildfires.
“Nothing can really prepare you for this devastation, and I wish I could tell you it’ll get better, but it won’t for a long time,” he said in a X post.
Drawing from his own experience last year, he urged others to have an evacuation plan in place, warning that wildfires often strike with little notice.
“Please look after your neighbors; they have a very long and painful road ahead, and everyone will move on from caring about Spokane in a week or so,” he said.
Sprinkler on roof may have saved Spokane home from wildfire
As CNN’s Julia Vargas Jones surveyed the damage left behind by the wildfire in a Northwest Spokane neighborhood, she spotted one homeowner’s creative attempt to protect their home from the flames.
A sprinkler can be seen on the roof, spraying water over the home. Across the street, Jones said, another home was left scorched by flames.
CNN video captures aftermath of devastating Spokane wildfire
CNN’s Julia Vargas Jones is in Spokane, Washington, where wildfires have devastated neighborhoods. As she walks through one of the areas hit hardest by the flames, Jones describes feeling the heat radiating from the structures and the thick smoke lingering in the air.
Watch the video below for a look at the destruction left in the wildfire’s wake.
Officials just gave updates on the Washington wildfires. Here's what we learned
Elected officials and other local authorities just wrapped up a news conference in which they provided updates on the historically destructive wildfires blazing in three areas of Spokane County, Washington, since yesterday.
Here are the latest updates on the wildfires:
- There are no reported serious fire-related injuries or deaths, Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said, but the Autumn Lane Fire is “still very active” and will remain so for some time, according to Spokane City Fire Chief Tom Williams.
- Over 10,000 residents remain without power, down from over 30,000 at the peak, Avista CEO Heather Rosentrater said.
- The cause of the three fires remains under investigation, Williams said.
- President Donald Trump is aware of the fires and Gov. Bob Ferguson said he had spoken with him and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
- Extensive resources, including aircraft and bulldozers, have been deployed to fight 15 fires across Washington, said Dave Upthegrove, the state’s commissioner of public lands.
- More than 100 National Guard members are assisting the Spokane County community, Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh said. He added getting affected residents back into their neighborhoods safely is going to take time. About 60,000 people were evacuated from the city, Spokane Police Chief Kevin Hall said.
- Washington expects short-term FEMA assistance to be approved and is working to request long-term aid as well, the governor said. Autumn Lane Fire being the highest-priority blaze in the nation means Washington will be prioritized for federal resources, Sen. Maria Cantwell added.
- The state is also receiving support from crews from more than a dozen states and Australia, Upthegrove said.
CNN’s Cindy Von Quednow, Julianna Bragg and Maria Aguilar Prieto contributed reporting.
Autumn Lane Fire is “still very active,” fire chief says
The Autumn Lane Fire is “still very active” and will remain so for some time until crews can get to every place affected by the it, Spokane City Fire Chief Tom Williams said.
The blaze is not contained, but firefighters have “relatively decent control” over the outside boundaries, Williams added.
“It can change at any time … Today’s weather was a concern with a different wind direction. So this is very dynamic, and it will be for a little bit more time,” he said.
Cause of Spokane wildfires remains under investigation
The causes of three major wildfires in Spokane County, Washington, remain under investigation, Spokane City Fire Chief Tom Williams said today.
Williams added there have been no reported injuries officials are aware of.
Washington receiving support from crews across the country and Australia, official says
As firefighters continue to battle blazes in Washington, they’re getting the support of crews from more than a dozen states from Florida to Alaska, and all the way from Australia, Dave Upthegrove, public lands commissioner for the state, said.
The support comes in different forms, including equipment and personnel, he added.
“The challenge is this summer, the whole western United States is on fire, and these assets are being spread thin,” Upthegrove said.
