FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

08/02/2026

Olympia, Wash. – The Old Trails Fire, part of a fast-moving cluster of blazes now known as the Spokane Complex, has burned more than 3,500 acres since erupting west of Spokane on the afternoon of August 1, driving Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation orders across large sections of northwest Spokane. According to the Spokesman-Review, as of the morning of August 2, an estimated 640 structures have been damaged or destroyed, with the number expected to rise as assessment continues, and as many as 11,000 people remain without power.


Fueled by extreme winds and record-dry conditions, the fire jumped the Spokane River overnight and pushed into city neighborhoods, forcing thousands of families to flee with little warning. Two additional fires, the Fairview Fire and the Autumn Lane Fire, broke out nearby the same afternoon, further straining evacuation routes and firefighting resources. Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide state of emergency, activated the Washington National Guard, and issued a burn ban in effect through September 30.


This wildfire season is already one of the most destructive on record for the Pacific Northwest. Washington and Oregon are together battling dozens of large, active fires that have burned well over a million acres so far this year, and the region remains under continued fire-weather danger. Beyond Spokane, several other fires across the region currently threaten homes and communities, including the Kaiser Canyon Fire burning on the Colville Reservation in northeast Washington, and multiple large fires in central and eastern Oregon — among them fires threatening the communities of Tygh Valley, Wamic, and Juntura. United Ways of the Pacific Northwest and our partners are closely monitoring these fires and stand ready to expand our response as needed.


United Ways of the Pacific Northwest and our partners are mobilizing now to help those displaced by the fires.

 

How United Ways of the Pacific Northwest is helping:
We are currently able to help displaced people find temporary housing through our partnership with Airbnb.org. We also partner with local United Ways and other organizations to get funds directly where families need them for their immediate relief and recovery.


How you can help:
For the Spokane region specifically, we have set up a Greater Spokane Recovery Fund. All proceeds will be used to help those affected by the wildfires in Spokane. If you would like to support our efforts in other areas across the Pacific Northwest, you can give to our Disaster Recovery Fund.


About United Ways of the Pacific Northwest
United Ways of the Pacific Northwest (UWPNW) is the regional association representing 32 local United Way organizations across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. UWPNW strengthens works to help strengthen its members' collective impact on shared priorities, including education, financial stability, health, and community resiliency. We also mobilize resources for communities in need during emergency disasters here in the Northwest. For more information, visit uwpnw.org.

 

Please contact Emily Wilson at [email protected] if you have any questions. 

 

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