Spokane wildfires leave widespread destruction as crews battle ongoing fire risks

What This is

• Three major fires near Spokane—Old Trails, Autumn Lane, and Fairview—have burned thousands of acres and remain active as crews try to build and hold containment lines.
• Evacuation orders have affected roughly 60,000–67,000 people, with many leaving quickly as winds pushed flames into neighborhoods and across barriers like roads and the Spokane River.
• Officials estimate that at least 600 to more than 1,100 structures have been destroyed or damaged, and a full accounting may take weeks because some areas remain unsafe to enter.
• The Old Trails fire is part of the Spokane Complex and has destroyed community sites along with homes, including the historic Spokane Rifle Club and a church, plus damage to schools and assisted-living facilities.
• Fire conditions have been fueled by heat, strong winds, drought, and low snowpack, and officials warn that a return of hotter, drier, windier weather could worsen fire behavior and prolong evacuations.
• A 37-year-old man, Aaron F. Farinacci, has been arrested and charged with first-degree arson for allegedly starting the Old Trails fire, and a mental competency evaluation has been ordered or is underway.
• Court documents and police accounts say investigators believe the Old Trails fire was planned, with allegations he researched conditions and used matches or a lighter, and prosecutors may pursue additional charges tied to other fires.
• Hundreds of out-of-state firefighters, the Washington National Guard, and large multi-agency teams have been deployed, including aircraft dropping water as crews defend communities.
• Washington has declared a statewide emergency and burn ban, while local officials have sought expedited federal emergency help as shelters, services, and insurance teams ramp up for displaced residents.
• Spokane’s April mass-evacuation drill helped refine routes, alerts, and traffic control, and those changes were used during the August evacuations.

Why This Matters

• The fires show how quickly a modern wildfire can overwhelm a city’s edge, where neighborhoods meet dry vegetation.
• Large evacuations test public trust in warnings and whether residents can leave safely without gridlock.
• If arson claims hold up in court, the case will shape how officials balance punishment, prevention, and mental-health safeguards.
• Damage at this scale can reshape housing, insurance costs, and rebuilding choices for years.
• The season adds pressure on state and federal agencies as crews and equipment are stretched across the West.