RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Wildfires burning across the Spokane, Washington, area have scorched more than 8,000 acres and destroyed at least 600 structures, forcing widespread evacuations in a disaster officials warn is drawing comparisons to Southern California’s catastrophic Palisades and Eaton fires .
The comparison highlights the severe neighborhood-level destruction. The Palisades Fire, which ignited in Pacific Palisades on January 7, 2025, and was fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds, burned 23,448 acres across parts of Malibu and Topanga, destroying 6,845 structures and killing 12 people before it was fully contained later that month.
While the Washington fires are far smaller in acreage, the scale of neighborhood damage recalls the destruction seen during the Palisades disaster. The blazes arrive amid what Washington Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove termed an " extraordinary fire season " across the Pacific Northwest, deploying thousands of personnel statewide.
Unlike remote forest fires, the Spokane-area blazes have pushed directly into densely populated communities, reducing homes and businesses to ash and displacing tens of thousands of residents. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency and imposed a statewide burn ban amid persistent extreme fire weather.
"What we're hearing ... at scale, is this is at the same level of an Altadena Eaton Fire or a Palisades sort of event," Benjamin Cossel, a spokesperson for the California Interagency Incident Management Team 7, said in a CBS News report. "We know we have more than 600 structures that have been destroyed, and we're very certain that that number will increase as firefighters are able to get into areas that they couldn't get into before because it was just too hot."
Those conditions rapidly dried vegetation and allowed flames to spread quickly across grasslands, timber and developed areas, helping drive the Old Trails, Fairview and Autumn Lane fires into nearby neighborhoods.
Newsweek reached out to the firefighting incident team by email for comment.
On Monday, temperatures were lower at around 61 degrees Fahrenheit, according to animated weather footage maps from windy.com.
Fire officials have warned that while cooler weather may provide some short-term relief, forecast temperatures in the mid- to upper 90s and humidity levels in the lower teens later this week could create conditions for renewed extreme fire behavior.
Meanwhile, humidity was higher on Monday morning, with NWS Spokane reporting 44 percent humidity at the Spokane International Airport, which could aid suppression efforts.
However, fuels remain dry across the region, according to windy.com.
Winds were calmer as well, with wind gust speeds at around 9 mph, less than the strong gusts that hit over the weekend. Winds could pick up later on Monday and as the week progresses, though.
Danger for fire spread around the Spokane area remains "very high," windy.com warned.
Wildfire smoke is also prolific across the area, prompting alerts and guidance for people in the area to remain indoors.
"An Air Quality Alert has also been issued for Grant, Lincoln, and Spokane counties until further notice due to expected smoke impacts from ongoing and emerging fires," NWS Spokane said in an air quality alert. "PM2.5 may reach unhealthy levels. When air quality is unhealthy, everyone should reduce exposure. Limit time outside, avoid strenuous outdoor activity, and follow tips for cleaner indoor air."
PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller, making the particles about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair. These microscopic pollutants, which are commonly produced by wildfire smoke, vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions and other forms of combustion, are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and can even enter the bloodstream. Because of their size, PM2.5 particles are considered one of the most harmful forms of air pollution and have been linked to breathing problems, worsened asthma, heart disease and other serious health effects, particularly among children, older adults and people with preexisting health conditions.
Evacuation orders have expanded rapidly across the Spokane area as multiple fast-moving wildfires, including the Old Trails Fire, burned into neighborhoods on the city's northwestern edge.
Authorities issued Level 3 "Go Now" orders for thousands of residents, forcing families to leave with little notice as flames driven by strong winds threatened homes, businesses and critical infrastructure. Emergency shelters were opened for displaced residents, while some medical facilities, including a Veterans Affairs hospital, relocated patients as a precaution. Officials have urged people to stay out of evacuation zones, warning that fire conditions can change quickly and that roads, power lines and other infrastructure may pose additional hazards as crews continue battling the blazes.
Officials have not yet provided a timeline for when evacuation orders will be lifted. Evacuations typically remain in place until fire crews can establish containment, reduce immediate threats to homes and infrastructure, and ensure roads, power lines and other hazards are safe for returning residents. With the major Spokane-area fires still largely uncontained and authorities continuing to assess damage, emergency managers have urged residents to follow official evacuation maps and alerts for the latest guidance.
Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Jason Lemon and Anthony Murray .
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