Three wildfires burning in and around Spokane, Washington have driven roughly 60,000 residents from their homes and destroyed hundreds of structures, with one person arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the largest blaze, BBC News reported on August 4, 2026.
Evacuation orders began on August 2, 2026, according to NPR. Large portions of the city were placed under Level 3 status, the highest evacuation tier, which directs residents to leave without delay. Spokane area emergency authorities issued an urgent warning: "Leave NOW! This may be your only notice." Level 3 notices also caution that the order issued may be the only one residents receive before a fire reaches them.
By August 3, 2026, NPR put the number of people under evacuation orders at approximately 60,000, with hundreds of homes already lost to the fires.
The arson arrest, reported by BBC News, came in connection with the largest of the three fires burning in the Spokane area.