SPOKANE, Wash – Spokane’s mayor says it could be days or weeks before some people can get back into neighborhoods evacuated in the path of multiple Spokane-area fires.
Mayor Lisa Brown pleaded for patience in a news conference about the fires Monday morning.
Thousands of people had to leave their homes as fires exploded in the Spokane area over the weekend.
More than 700 structures have burned, many of them homes, while thousands of people are still not allowed back in their neighborhoods.
The most impactful fire is the Old Trails Fire, which started in Airway Heights, jumped the river in Riverside State Park and spread into Indian Trail.
“The impact on people’s lives is truly profound,” Governor Bob Ferguson said. He spoke of first responders who are under evacuation orders and still out fighting the fires.
Gov. Ferguson said there are federal resources on the way, including search and rescue equipment, debris removal and temporary shelter.
Gov. Ferguson said FEMA is not awaiting approval, and has already started moving into the area.
There are shelters available at the Spokane Convention Center, Northwood Middle School and Jenkins High School in Chewelah.
Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove says the state is experiencing a historic fire season, with 17 major fires burning in the state right now. 5,000 firefighters on the fire lines, including nearly 1,000 in the Spokane area.
Sheriff John Nowels said no cause has been released on any of the fires, but they are under investigation.
COPYRIGHT 2026 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
