What we know about the Spokane wildfires on Monday

Three wildfires are burning the edges of Spokane, the second-largest city in Washington, after they surged over the weekend. 

Hundreds of structures have been damaged and tens of thousands of people were evacuated from their homes. 

All three of the wildfires — the Old Trails, Autumn Lane and Fairview fires, known together as the Spokane Complex fires — were at 0% containment Monday morning. 

Here is what we know about the wildfires right now:

How many people have been affected?

More than 60,000 people were in “Go Now” evacuation areas in and around Spokane, and about 700 structures were damaged, including homes, outbuildings and other structures, though that number is likely to change. 

Thousands of people were without power Sunday while the tens of thousands evacuated from their homes worked to find new places to stay. 

Level 3 “Go Now!” evacuation orders were issued for thousands within the city limits just before 3:30 p.m. Saturday, later including all of the city north of Francis Avenue and west of Division Street. 

No death or injuries have been confirmed, officials said Monday. 

Authorities said the wildfire complex is likely the most destructive disaster Spokane has ever faced. Scenes of desolation played out across the city over the weekend as people sidestepped roadblocks to see what’s left of their neighborhoods. 

How did the wildfires start?

The cause of the wildfires is being investigated, but the Northwest Coordination Center reported Monday morning that the origins of the fire were “human.” That doesn’t necessarily mean they were set intentionally — it just means they weren’t caused by lightning or another natural source.

All three fires sparked Saturday in vegetation and surged into infernos within minutes, said Spokane District 3 Chief Cody Rohrbach. High winds spewed embers, helping two of the fires jump the Spokane River and rip through suburban neighborhoods in a matter of hours, leaving behind a trail of untold damage.  

The weather was hot, dry and windy at the time, making for conditions that the National Weather Service considered a “particularly dangerous situation” — one step above a red-flag warning. 

How big have the wildfires gotten?

The Old Trails and Autumn Lane fires are the largest, reported by the Northwest Coordination Center to be similar in size Monday morning. They were 3,619 and 3,351 acres, respectively. 

The Fairview Fire was 1,056 acres Monday morning.

Firefighters were able to stop the advance of the Old Trails fire by Sunday afternoon, the Spokane fire district said. 

About 900 firefighters from all over the country had rushed in to beat down the flames by Sunday afternoon, working alongside airplanes and helicopters dropping water and chemicals on the blaze. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency authorized federal funds to help pay for the efforts, but more will be needed. Gov. Bob Ferguson requested food, search-and-rescue help, housing and more from the federal government. 

Smoke from the wildfires is even expected to drift into the Seattle area Tuesday through Thursday, reducing visibility and making air quality conditions unhealthy. 

What is the outlook for the wildfires going forward?

Fire crews will be focused on the Autumn Lane fire Monday as northerly winds continue to drive it into rugged terrain and residential areas, California Interagency Incident Management Team spokesperson Joe Tieso said. The fire saw significant growth to the east and southeast with multiple structures threatened over Sunday night. 

The Fairview and Old Trails fires likely won’t grow Monday, said Nic Elmquist, a fire behavior analyst and deputy incident commander. But there will be continued smoke and a need for firefighters to put out hot spots within the footprint.

Big fire runs have declined with more favorable weather for the firefight, Elmquist said, but warmer and drier conditions will return later in the week.

“It’s going to be a dynamic couple days,” Elmquist said. “Especially as we work to tie in that Autumn Lane fire.” 

This is Washington’s fourth consecutive year of severe drought, setting the stage for wildfires by drying out the grasses, shrubs and trees that commonly serve as fuel. At least a dozen other fires were also burning across the state, several of which expanded significantly over the weekend. 

Scientists have repeatedly warned that these majorly destructive wildfires will likely become more common while an ongoing warming trend leaves Washington with rain instead of snow in the winter, and dangerously little rain in the summer when it’s needed most. 

How can I help those affected?

The city of Spokane has set up the H.O.M.E. Starts Here Fund (st.news/HOME) to accept donations. Typically used to support people experiencing homelessness, the fund is being activated to support community members affected by wildfires, according to its website.

Several nonprofits are taking donations online, including the Innovia Foundation’s Spokane Complex Wildfire Response Fund. The American Red Cross Northwest Region is also accepting donations. 

You can find more ways to support those affected by the fires at st.news/spokanehelp.