Wildfires in eastern Washington state have forced the evacuation of 60,000 people in the Spokane area and destroyed at least 600 homes, businesses, and other structures, authorities reported on Sunday, August 2nd, 2026.

The fires, burning about 8.2 square miles (21 square kilometers) around Spokane—the state's second largest city—are part of dozens of wildfires across the western United States that have stretched the capacity of federal, state, and local agencies.

In total, approximately 390 square miles (about 1,000 square kilometers) have burned across Washington state, with some fires, including those near Spokane, remaining uncontained. Officials confirmed that evacuees included patients from Spokane's US Veterans Affairs hospital.

Video footage from the area showed buildings engulfed in flames and neighborhoods covered in black smoke, with some homes reduced to smoking ruins where only chimneys remain standing.

US Senator Maria Cantwell, speaking at a news conference with federal, state, and local officials in Spokane, cautioned, “We are not out of danger. The next couple of days will be challenging.” Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the blazes.

The region, home to cattle ranches, faces threats to more than 600 homes and 800 other structures. While temperatures on Sunday were forecast to stay below 80°F, wind gusts between 35 mph (56 km/h) and 45 mph were expected, according to Benjamin Cossel, public information officer for the federal response team from California.

Spokane County Commissioner Chris Jordan shared that relatives of his were in the affected area and uncertain if their home survived the fires. Heather Rosenstrater, president and CEO of Avista Corp, the local electric and natural gas utility, reported that about 10,000 people were without power on Sunday, down from a peak of 30,000.

Fire officials and police stated there were no reports of injuries or missing persons but emphasized that the response effort was still in its early stages.

Sources