Crews Build Containment Lines Around Spokane Wildfires as 67,000 Remain Displaced

Firefighters have established containment lines around three wildfires near Spokane, Washington, while about 67,000 displaced residents remain under evacuation orders and officials prepare for hotter, drier weather.

Authorities said on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, that crews had created lines around the perimeters of all three fires affecting the area and were working to reinforce them. Temperatures were forecast to rise to about 36 degrees Celsius later in the week, with lower humidity and stronger winds increasing the risk of further spread.

The fires have destroyed about 850 buildings since they began last weekend. Damage-assessment teams have not yet established how many homes were destroyed or damaged, and no deaths have been reported.

Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said broad evacuation restrictions would remain for several days because officials could not yet be certain the containment lines would hold. Many residents are staying in a convention-center shelter, hotels, rental accommodation or with family and friends.

One of the blazes, the Old Trails Fire, was deliberately started, authorities allege. A 37-year-old Spokane man has been charged with arson and was expected to be arraigned on Thursday. He denied starting the fire when questioned, according to court documents. The causes of the Autumn Lane and Fairview fires remain under investigation.

Across Washington state, 16 uncontained wildfires were burning more than 1,740 square kilometers and involved more than 7,000 firefighting personnel, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.