Spokane firefighters battle Old Trails wildfire in residential neighborhood

A fast-moving wildfire that originated in Riverside State Park spread into the Old Trails area of Spokane on Aug. 1, forcing residents to flee and prompting a prolonged firefighting effort in a residential neighborhood. Seventy-one-year-old Bob Loomis and his family escaped after a police officer warned them of imminent danger, while Loomis briefly tried to water his yard before being ordered to leave.

Firefighters from Spokane County Fire District 8 and the Spokane Fire Department converged at the intersection of Woodside Avenue and West Conestoga Avenue, where Acting Lieutenant Shaun Monaghan declared they would “make our stand here.” Crews battled intense heat, exploding propane tanks, ignited natural-gas lines and wind gusts exceeding 50 mph, which drove flames laterally across streets. The conditions were described as comparable to the aftermath of a nuclear blast, with melted safety goggles and firefighters suffering dehydration.

Monaghan, along with driver Will Powers and firefighter Aaron Beaulaurier, fought to protect homes for more than 17 hours, often retreating and repositioning as the fire surrounded them. Captain Todd Wood of Fire District 8 arrived with Engine 82 and, together with Monaghan’s team, focused on defending the house of Bob Loomis, using limited water supplies from their tanks and nearby hydrants. Other crews described the effort as “cowboy firefighting,” moving from house to house to douse spot fires and prevent further spread.

By sunrise on Sunday, a few homes on Woodside Avenue remained standing amid a landscape of smoldering destruction. Fire officials said the coordinated actions of the crews likely saved many additional houses, though the fire ultimately destroyed over 900 structures across the Spokane Complex fires. No deaths were reported, but firefighters expressed the emotional toll of witnessing widespread loss and the challenges of responding to such an unprecedented urban wildfire.