The wind-driven Old Trails Fire crossed the Spokane River after burning nearly four square miles with zero containment reported Saturday evening. Washington declared a state of emergency as high heat, strong winds and a particularly dangerous red-flag alert complicated the response.
The Old Trails Fire began around noon Saturday in brush and grass northwest of Spokane. Strong winds pushed the fire north and east into residential areas and across the Spokane River. Officials said almost four square miles had burned by Saturday evening.
Thousands of residents were told to evacuate. Fire officials reported zero containment and acknowledged some structure losses without a confirmed count. Avista used public-safety power shutoffs, and Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency.
The National Weather Service issued a particularly dangerous situation red-flag alert for eastern Washington. Power shutoffs can reduce ignition risk while interrupting service for residents. Early acreage and structure estimates are routinely revised after mapping and damage assessment.
The checked record also defines what is not yet established. The cause was under investigation, a complete structure count was unavailable, and wind could rapidly change the perimeter after the cutoff. This distinction prevents an announcement, allegation, estimate or early field report from being presented as a completed or independently proven event.
At the August 2 publication cutoff, the next evidence expected to update this account is overnight containment and structure-loss estimates and cause findings and reentry guidance for evacuees. Those future developments are not assumed here; they will require a responsible source, a dated public record or independently verifiable reporting.
The source pages retained below support the numerical values, sequence and attributed statements in this report. Statements from interested parties establish what those parties said or did, but they do not independently prove every claim embedded in those statements. No image is included because a rights-cleared visual was not necessary to report the facts.
This edition preserves the difference between the immediate event and its operating context. The National Weather Service issued a particularly dangerous situation red-flag alert for eastern Washington. Power shutoffs can reduce ignition risk while interrupting service for residents. Early acreage and structure estimates are routinely revised after mapping and damage assessment. The article will remain fixed at this cutoff even if a later investigation, corrected total, weather observation or implementation record changes the public understanding.