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Spokane Wildfires Destroy 700 Homes, Suspect Arrested, Trump Declares Emergency

8/6/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Wildfires in Spokane, Washington from Aug. 1-4, 2026 destroyed 700 structures and forced 65,000 people to evacuate.
Police arrested a 37-year-old man accused of igniting the Old Trails Fire, the largest blaze.
After Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency on Aug. 2, 2026, President Donald Trump approved a federal emergency declaration on Tuesday, authorizing disaster assistance.

History

Historical Context

The November 8 2018 Camp Fire, sparked by a failing PG&E transmission line during strong winds, razed Paradise, killing 85 people and destroying 18,804 structures—costing $16.5 billion. It followed the deadly 2017 Northern California fire season and led PG&E to file for bankruptcy in January 2019, prompting state and federal emergency declarations and new utility safety rules.

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Story summary

Wildfires in Spokane, Washington from Aug. 1-4, 2026 destroyed 700 structures and forced 65,000 people to evacuate.
Police arrested a 37-year-old man accused of igniting the Old Trails Fire, the largest blaze.
After Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency on Aug. 2, 2026, President Donald Trump approved a federal emergency declaration on Tuesday, authorizing disaster assistance.

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