Overview
- The Old Trails Fire ignited around noon Saturday and, driven by strong winds and low humidity, grew to roughly 2,500–3,000 acres with little or no containment reported by nightfall.
- Authorities issued multiple Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation orders for northwest Spokane and opened shelters for people and animals as some residents fled homes and videos showed neighborhoods on fire.
- Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency, imposed a statewide burn ban through September, activated the Washington National Guard, and secured access to interstate firefighting aid through EMAC.
- Utilities carried out public-safety power shutoffs that left tens of thousands without electricity, officials said thousands of structures were threatened, some critical facilities were evacuated, and the fire’s cause remains under investigation.
- The blaze is part of a larger, record-setting season that has burned hundreds of thousands of acres, prompted an unprecedented NWS ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’ Red Flag Warning, and has stretched local crews so stateside and international teams were mobilized to help.