Wildfire Evacuations Expand Across Washington State as Red Cross Opens Shelter for Thousands
Authorities in Washington State mobilized emergency shelters Friday night as a fast-moving wildfire north of Airway Heights forced thousands to flee their ho...
Authorities in Washington State mobilized emergency shelters Friday night as a fast-moving wildfire north of Airway Heights forced thousands to flee their homes. The Old Trails Fire has scorched roughly 2,500 acres, with the Spokane County Sheriff's Office confirming active flames burning near the Dwight Merkel Sports Complex.
The American Red Cross opened a second mass shelter at the Spokane Convention Center to absorb evacuees displaced by multiple fires affecting the region. The agency said facilities now provide cots, meals, and essential supplies for people with nowhere else to go.
What Evacuees Should Know
Officials encouraged people fleeing the fire zone to bring prescription medications, emergency documents, extra clothing, blankets, hygiene items, and comfort possessions if time permits safe departure. The shelters stock these basics, but personal items often carry irreplaceable value for displaced families.
The Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center evacuated its entire patient census—27 individuals—to nearby shelters under continued VA staff supervision. Meanwhile, the Spokane Police Department asked non-evacuating residents to avoid Francis Avenue, a critical corridor for residents leaving the danger zone.
State Response and Ongoing Operations
Governor Bob Ferguson convened an emergency briefing to assess the wildfire situation. "We're monitoring closely," he stated in a message to residents. "If you are in the area, please follow instructions from emergency personnel and obey any evacuation orders."
The situation unfolded across multiple fire fronts. The nearby Fairview Fire in Mead burned an estimated 979 acres, prompting state firefighting resources to deploy five strike teams and personnel from the Washington State Fire Marshal's Office to support local containment crews. Evacuations in that zone expanded southward toward Lincoln and Pleasant Prairie as crews battled what officials described as "a fast-moving fire."
Aid organizations reported significant challenges coordinating with residents in real time. One shelter originally designated for evacuees—at Northwood Middle School—had locked doors with no staff present when evacuees arrived, prompting agencies to seek clarification about operational status.
As of Friday night, state and local crews continued working to protect lives and property across the affected zones. Authorities urged residents to stay alert for updated evacuation orders and shelter information throughout the ongoing emergency.
