Wildfire Forces Thousands to Evacuate in Spokane, Washington

A fast-moving wildfire, fueled by powerful winds and scorching temperatures, tore through northwest Spokane on Saturday, forcing thousands to evacuate their homes after it jumped the Spokane River.

The blaze, dubbed the Old Trails Fire, ignited around noon in an open area of brush and grass. It rapidly expanded north and east, threatening residential neighborhoods.

Residents fled in their vehicles, creating lines of cars on roads as vivid orange and red flames became visible from the highway.

By Saturday evening, the inferno had consumed nearly four square miles (10 square kilometers) of terrain, sending a thick plume of smoke billowing across the region, according to Courtney James, a spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

"We urge residents of Spokane to heed evacuation orders and to stay alert to changing conditions and evacuations as they are rapidly changing," James stated.

While some structures were lost, officials could not provide a definitive count, added Jessica Watson, another DNR spokesperson for the fire, noting that firefighters had achieved zero containment as winds persisted.

In response to the elevated fire risk, power company Avista initiated public safety shutoffs in the affected areas.

The escalating crisis prompted Gov. Bob Ferguson to declare a state of emergency on Saturday, as unusually high temperatures and strong winds exacerbated record wildfires across Washington.

The National Weather Service issued a "particularly dangerous situation" red flag alert for eastern Washington, underscoring the severe conditions.