Spokane-area fires hold steady as crews work through red-flag conditions

Three wildfires that have scorched more than 10,300 acres across Spokane and Stevens counties remained unchanged on Friday, according to a Saturday incident update. The Old Trails, Fairview and Autumn Lane fires, which started on Aug. 1, are under investigation for their causes and have damaged or destroyed an estimated 921 structures.

Containment levels reported on Saturday were 47% for the Autumn Lane Fire, 43% for the Old Trails Fire and 31% for the Fairview Fire. Crews have constructed over 75 miles of containment line and are actively searching for and extinguishing residual heat near homes and other structures to limit further damage.

Firefighters also responded to two new fires on Friday, assisting local resources in suppressing both. The area remains under a red-flag warning, with low humidity and winds of 10-15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph expected through Saturday night. A cold front is forecast to bring more moderate weather next week.

A specialized Firetrol MXOne monitor is being used at a recycling facility within the Fairview Fire, delivering water at about 2,000 gallons per minute—far higher than typical fire apparatus—to extinguish deep-seated heat along the control line. Hazardous-materials specialists will assess zones still under Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation orders, while fire-weakened trees and ash pits continue to pose risks.

A temporary flight restriction remains in place over the incident area, and no drone incursions were reported in the past 24 hours.