SPOKANE, Wash – The Spokane County Sheriff says they know of at least one person reported missing in the wake of the Upriver Fire in Spokane County.
Sheriff John Nowels said they plan to search for that person, but the area where they were reported missing is not yet safe to search.
Sheriff Nowels also said, at last check, 15 homes have burned.
The Upriver Fire started around noon Tuesday in the Camp Sekani area off of Upriver Drive.
It quickly tore through hundreds of acres to the east and northeast and into the Northwood neighborhood. Some homes in that area are tinted pink, covered by fire retardant.
As of Wednesday afternoon, thousands of homes were in the evacuation area, which stretches to Argonne on the east.
Law enforcement and fire officials urged people to stay out of the area unless they have critical medication they need. In those cases, people need to work with law enforcement and firefighters to be safely brought into the area.
“These fires are an immediate threat to people’s lives, even if it’s not apparent,” said Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels. “We contacted over 1500 residents individually in the first four hours of this incident.”
Sheriff Nowels said the county will help establish a disaster recovery center where people who have lost their homes or have been evacuated can get items they need.
COPYRIGHT 2026 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
