August 3, 2026
Wildfire Update | August 2, 2026 | 2 min read
A cluster of new, fast-moving wildfires ignited over the weekend in eastern Washington, adding to what's already one of the state's busiest fire years on record. Here's where things stand and how far the smoke could reach.
Three fires — the Old Trails, Fairview, and Autumn Lane fires — broke out in and around Spokane on August 1. The largest, the Old Trails Fire, ignited near Riverside State Park just northwest of the city and burned more than 3,500 acres within its first day. All three fires have been driven by strong winds and low humidity typical of the region's late-summer pattern.
These fires didn't start in isolation. Washington is in the middle of a record-setting statewide drought, and officials were already battling 10 large fires across the state before this weekend. So far in 2026, more than 1,000 fires have burned roughly 425,000 acres statewide — the most since 2021 — and officials expect the risk to stay elevated with more heat and wind forecast through the rest of summer.
Wildfire smoke doesn't stay contained to the fire perimeter. Depending on wind direction, smoke from fires of this size and speed can travel well beyond eastern Washington, affecting air quality across the broader Pacific Northwest and Inland Northwest, including areas hundreds of miles from the fire itself. Anyone downwind may see a drop in air quality even without visible flames nearby.
State officials have warned that dry, windy conditions are expected to persist, which raises the risk of continued rapid fire growth in the region. With a record year already underway, more smoke events across the Pacific Northwest are likely before the season winds down.
Prep your home before smoke arrives
If smoke is drifting toward your area, a few steps can help now:
Sources: NPR, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Office of Governor Bob Ferguson.
