Fast-moving wildfires burning uncontained across eastern Washington state have forced the evacuation of roughly 5,000 homes and destroyed at least 600 buildings.

The blazes—including the Old Trails, Fairview, and Meadowview fires—have torched more than 8.2 square miles around Spokane, Washington’s second-largest city. The region remains under a “particularly dangerous situation” red flag alert as high wind gusts and rugged canyon terrain challenge containment efforts.

Federal Teams Deployed as Winds Threaten Progress

A federal incident response team from California was brought in to assist local and state crews fighting the three active blazes surrounding Spokane. Officials warned that gusty winds reaching up to 45 mph could push flames through steep river canyons, increasing the risk to nearby residential areas.

“We have weather working against us, and we have terrain working against us,” said Benjamin Cossel, public information officer for the federal response team.

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency over the weekend, activating National Guard personnel to support firefighting operations and emergency management.

Regional Impact Across the Western US

No fatalities or serious injuries have been reported in the Spokane area so far. Authorities have established an emergency shelter at the Spokane Convention Center to assist displaced residents.

The Washington blazes are part of a broader outbreak of severe wildfire activity stretching across the western United States. Air quality warnings and red flag alerts remain in place across parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Utah as dry conditions and summer heat fuel active fires throughout the region.