A fast-spreading wildfire keeps Washington state on alert after consuming more than 2,300 acres outside Spokane and prompting evacuations throughout Saturday. Authorities warned that around 4,000 structures remain under threat as emergency crews try to contain the flames amid extreme weather conditions.
The Old Trails Fire is one of three active fires recorded in the Spokane area, where high winds, low humidity and drought have favored rapid fire expansion.
Governor warns of an “extremely dynamic” situation
During a press conference Saturday night, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson noted that the situation is constantly changing and confirmed that he has seen images of homes consumed by flames.
“This is an extremely difficult situation for Washingtonians,” said the president, who announced that he would travel to Spokane on Sunday to meet with emergency personnel and oversee response efforts.
For his part, Major General of the Washington National Guard, Gent Welsh, described the situation as a tragedy and anticipated that the extent of the damage could be seen more clearly at dawn.
Although authorities have not yet confirmed how many homes were destroyed, they indicated that thousands of structures remain at risk due to the advance of the fire.
Maximum alert for fire danger
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued an unusual “Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning” on Saturday, the highest level of alert for favorable conditions for wildfires.
The warning was in effect between 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. (Pacific time) for parts of eastern Washington and Oregon, including the Spokane and Pendleton areas.
Meteorologists explained that the combination of strong gusts of wind and extremely dry vegetation creates a favorable scenario for rapidly spreading fires.
Firefighters also reported that the Old Trails Fire presents a behavior known as “crowning,” when the fire moves through the treetops, which makes control efforts significantly difficult.
Washington declares state of emergency due to drought
Hours before the fire advanced, Ferguson declared a state of emergency across Washington due to drought conditions and announced a burn ban that will remain in effect until the end of September.
The measure does not affect the use of gas or liquid fuel stoves or grills installed on non-flammable surfaces and away from vegetation, nor agricultural or forestry burning authorized through specific permits. Campfires are also allowed in public and private campgrounds when they are held within rings or pits designed for that purpose.
Oregon also faces intense fire season
The emergency extends to much of the northwest of the United States. In Oregon, 30 large uncontained wildfires remain active.
So far this season, the fire has consumed more than 1.7 million acres in that state, a figure close to the record of 1.93 million acres registered during 2024.
In addition, more than two-thirds of the west of the country continues to be affected by varying levels of drought. In Oregon, more than half of the land is experiencing severe drought conditions and approximately one-fifth faces extreme drought.
Heat wave increases the risk of new fires
The favorable fire conditions coincide with an intense heat wave affecting more than 50 million people in the western United States.
Extreme heat warnings remain in effect for cities including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Billings, Montana.
In Phoenix, forecasts call for temperatures of up to 116 degrees Fahrenheit over the weekend, values that could equal or surpass historical records and further increase the risk of wildfires in the region.
