Lisa Brown urges vigilance as three major wildfires devastate Spokane County, forcing 65,000 residents to evacuate
Spokane County is facing its worst natural disaster in history as three major wildfires—the Old Trails, Fairview, and Autumn Lane fires—continue to rage across the region. The administration announced that nearly 65,000 people have been evacuated from their homes as the fires have consumed over 8,000 acres and destroyed more than 700 structures. Mayor Lisa Brown stated that residents should remain vigilant and stay out of evacuation areas until further notice. The Autumn Lane fire, currently the nation's highest-priority blaze, has become the largest of the three, consuming 4,318 acres. While no fatalities have been reported yet, the fires have significantly impacted air quality, with Spokane experiencing the country's worst air quality as of Monday morning. Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide emergency and an outdoor burn ban for all 39 counties in Washington to mitigate wildfire risks. Firefighters and National Guard members are currently battling the flames, while authorities investigate the causes of the fires.