Wildfires in and around Spokane, Washington's second-largest city, burned more than 8.2 square miles and destroyed 600 structures on 2 August 2026, forcing 60,000 people to evacuate including patients at a U.S. Veterans Affairs hospital. The fires were among dozens across the western U.S., stretching federal and local firefighting capacity.
As of August 2, 2026, wildfires near Spokane, Washington destroyed hundreds of buildings and forced thousands to evacuate, with officials describing it as the largest natural disaster in the region. Improving weather conditions offered hope for containment efforts.