Spokane Area Fires: Recovery Resources for Survivors
Three wildfires that broke out across Spokane County on August 1, 2026 — the Old Trails, Autumn Lane, and Fairview fires — forced tens of thousands to evacuate and destroyed hundreds of homes. This page gathers the recovery resources available to affected residents and points you to the official sources for current fire and evacuation status.
This is an active, fast-changing situation
Fire status and evacuation orders in the Spokane area are changing hour to hour. This page is a recovery resource — it is not a live tracker. For current fire status, evacuation zones, and air quality, always rely on the official sources below and your county's alerts:
What happened
On the afternoon of Saturday, August 1, 2026, three fast-moving wildfires broke out across Spokane County during red-flag conditions — extreme heat, single-digit humidity, and strong winds. Driven by those conditions, the fires grew rapidly, jumped the Spokane River, and pushed into neighborhoods in and around the city. The three fires are now managed together as the Spokane Area Fires, under a national incident management team, with thousands of personnel from multiple states assisting local crews.
By early in the week, officials reported roughly 65,000 people under evacuation orders and more than 700 structures destroyed — many of them homes in the Indian Trail and Five Mile Prairie areas. Local officials described it as among the worst natural disasters the region has faced. A large-scale evacuation effort has been credited with preventing loss of life.
The three fires
Here is a snapshot of the three fires. Acreage and containment change constantly — treat these as a point-in-time reference and confirm current numbers with the official sources above.
Figures reflect official reports available as of August 4, 2026, when the fires remained largely uncontained. The cause of the fires is under investigation. For live acreage, containment, and evacuation zones, use the official sources above.
If you are under an evacuation order: follow it immediately and do not wait. Spokane County uses three levels — Level 1 “Get Ready,” Level 2 “Get Set,” and Level 3 “Leave Now.” A Level 3 order may be your only notice. Follow Spokane Regional Emergency Communications and your county's alerts for the current zones. Your safety comes before any recovery step on this page.
Where to get help if you've been affected
Recovery after a wildfire follows the same general path no matter which fire affected you. These free resources walk you through each stage.
1. Right after the fire
In the first days, focus on safety, shelter, and documenting your losses before any cleanup begins. Our First 72 Hours guide covers exactly what to do. The American Red Cross has opened shelters in the Spokane area, and dialing 211 connects you to local food, shelter, and recovery help.
2. Protect yourself from smoke
Wildfire smoke has pushed air quality in the Spokane region to unhealthy and hazardous levels, which affects even healthy people. Check current air quality on the Washington Smoke Blog, limit time outdoors, keep windows closed, and use indoor air filtration when levels are high.
3. Document what you lost
Before you file an insurance claim, you'll need to account for what was destroyed. This is one of the hardest parts of recovery, and doing it thoroughly protects what you're able to recover.
Free Home Inventory Tool
Walk through your home room by room and download a ready-to-file list for your insurance claim. No sign-up, nothing stored.
For a full walkthrough of the claim process, see our guide on creating a home inventory for an insurance claim, and the common insurance claim mistakes to avoid.
4. Apply for assistance
If a federal disaster is declared for Spokane County, FEMA and SBA assistance may become available, along with state and nonprofit programs. Our financial assistance guide explains what's out there and how to apply.
Official Washington & Spokane sources
WA DNR Wildfire Portal →
The state's official source for current status on notable Washington wildfires.
WA DSHS Wildfire Updates →
State social-services help, including replacing food benefits lost to the fires.
WA Insurance Commissioner →
Help filing a wildfire claim and resolving disputes with your insurer.
FEMA Disaster Assistance →
Apply for federal help with housing and disaster needs if a declaration is made.
See all Washington recovery resources
Our Washington wildfires hub gathers state agencies, recovery steps, smoke guidance, and the home inventory tool in one place.
This page is a free informational resource for wildfire survivors and is not legal, financial, or insurance advice. The Spokane Area Fires are an active, rapidly changing situation — for current fire status and evacuation orders, always rely on the official Washington and Spokane County sources linked above. This site is offered as a free resource by The Wagner Law Group; using it does not create an attorney-client relationship.