Spokane Fire: Old Trails Fire Forces Evacuations as Washington Declares Statewide Wildfire Emergency

Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide state of emergency and a burn ban through September 30 due to record-setting wildfires in eastern Washington. High temperatures and winds have caused over 200,000 acres to burn across 12 large fires. Specifically, the Old Trails Fire near Spokane has burned approximately 100 acres, triggering Level 3 evacuations along the Spokane River. These extreme conditions have forced widespread evacuations throughout Spokane County and surrounding areas to ensure public safety.