A wildfire known as the Old Trails Fire ignited near Airway Heights in Spokane County, Washington, on Saturday morning around 11:56 a.m. The blaze expanded rapidly, driven by strong winds, and grew from an estimated 100 acres to over 3,500 acres within hours.
By evening, the fire had crossed the Spokane River and encroached on residential areas, prompting Level 3 “Go Now” evacuations in multiple zones, including neighborhoods between Rutter Parkway and Francis Avenue, along the Spokane River to Division Street, and regions northeast of Airway Heights and northwest of Nine‑Mile Falls.
Multiple homes were reported lost to the fire, and city infrastructure such as a water treatment plant and a wastewater facility was cleared to safeguard essential services. A veterans’ hospital was fully evacuated, with patients relocated to other facilities.
An emergency shelter opened at Spokane Falls Community College to accommodate displaced residents. Thick smoke and traffic congestion compounded the urgency of the evacuation orders.
State officials declared a wildfire emergency and imposed a burn ban effective through September, as more than 200,000 acres burned across a dozen large fires in Washington. The Washington National Guard was mobilized, and state fire resources were activated under the Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan.
The cause of the Old Trails Fire remains under investigation, with authorities continuing to assess the circumstances surrounding the incident.
