Western Wildfires

The sun begins to set behind lingering smoke from several wildfires in the state near Sprague, Wash., Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.

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Firefighters get a handle on Spokane wildfires as tens of thousands remain evacuated

Firefighters get a handle on Spokane wildfires as tens of thousands remain evacuated

Crews have taken advantage of cooler weather to begin getting a handle on wildfires that have displaced tens of thousands of people around Washington state’s second-largest city, but hotter, drier and windier days lie ahead. Officials reported Wednesday that firefighters had established containment lines around the perimeters of all three fires and that they were focused on reinforcing those lines. Authorities say one of the fires was deliberately set by a man who has been arrested and charged with arson. Together the three have destroyed at least about 850 buildings and forced the evacuation of around 67,000 people since they erupted last weekend.