Overview
- The three-fire complex east of Spokane — the Autumn Lane, Old Trails and Fairview fires — ignited last Saturday and has scorched more than 10,000 acres while destroying hundreds of structures and prompting mass evacuations.
- Authorities arrested and charged a Spokane resident with first-degree arson in one blaze, and court records say he admitted to starting that fire and more than two dozen others.
- Westerly onshore winds have pushed smoke out of western Washington, improving air quality in the Seattle and Puget Sound region while unhealthy to hazardous conditions persist closer to active fires east of the Cascades.
- Red Flag Warnings remain in effect for central and eastern Washington because gusty winds and very low humidity are driving dangerous fire weather that can spark new blazes and speed spread.
- Communities are coping with returned evacuees, destroyed homes and disrupted summer programs, firefighters are conducting containment and mop-up work under strained conditions, and officials warn renewed gusts or fresh ignitions could trigger more evacuations and air-quality alerts.