Henry Rifle Forums

Hatchdog wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 02, 2026 11:51 am

Yesterday in the weather topic I posted the following:

A PDS Red Flag Warning is in effect from 2 pm to 5 pm across the Inland Northwest. PDS stands for Particularly Dangerous Situation. PDS Warnings are only issued for the rarest and most extreme circumstances. This is the first one issued by the NWS Spokane office.

Well unfortunately it all came true. Yesterday three different fires broke out in the Spokane area. One currently at 3500 acres and two others at 1000 each. All three have burned into neighborhoods and between the three fires it is estimated that 600 structures are lost or damaged. Structures include homes but also garages, shops, sheds, coops, etc. In one neighborhood in Spokane itself the local news is showing several homes completely destroyed. Two of the tress fires started on the west side of the Spokane River but the winds took embers across and the fire continued. The Spokane River is a pretty big river and fairly wide in many places but in the fire area it’s a bit narrower. Sadly it looks like the Spokane Rifle Club may have burned but no report on that yet. The fire perimeter includes the club. I’ll post a pic showing the 200 yard range with the river alongside.

Nothing close to my place thankfully but one of my golf buddies was evacuated. We were supposed to play golf today the the fool didn’t grab his clubs. Interesting, he was evacuated from his home, traveled a few miles north to a buddies place and an hour later was evacuated again due to a different fire.

CT_Shooter wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 02, 2026 12:02 pm

Hoping you continue to be safe, Hatch. Seems like the world is on fire.

Sir Henry wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 02, 2026 9:13 pm

That same area burned in the early 70’s.

Hatchdog wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 03, 2026 9:21 am

Sir Henry wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 02, 2026 9:13 pm

That same area burned in the early 70’s.

I remember that well. My brother and I tried to volunteer to help but the command structure was poor and nobody was able to give us a job. So we wandered around in Riverside State Park shoveling dirt and ash on hot spots.

So these current fires are more catastrophic than I thought. First of all, yes the Spokane Rifle Club is mostly destroyed. The rifle and pistol club house is gone as well is the cover and baffles on the 100 yard line, the benches and target stands on the 200 yard line and the outdoor pistol range cover and stands. The shotgun club house is completely gone as well as several maintenance sheds and equipment. The indoor pistol range building is still standing but nobody has been allowed entrance to check for damage.

The number of homes destroyed is unknown but expected to be in the hundreds. I’ve seen video on the news showing entire neighborhoods totally gone. The info officer with the fire dept is saying the structures lost is listed at 640+ but he expects that number to be much higher once the total picture is known. 10,000 people are evacuated but not all have homes destroyed but are unable to return to them due to the danger.

Coach wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 05, 2026 2:18 am

Arson was the cause of at least one. The perpetrator was arrested.

Hatchdog wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 05, 2026 11:33 am

Coach wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 05, 2026 2:18 am

Arson was the cause of at least one. The perpetrator was arrested.

Yes and interesting the fact he was questioned twice in 2025 for arson.

The fire suppression is going well with some to excellent containment on all three fires. I understand there are up to 65,000 people evacuated but some of them have been allowed back to their homes. Another good news item is the fire was mostly stopped before it entered what’s called the Five Mile neighborhood. Had it entered this area another 100+ homes might have been lost. I understand a few homes on the western edge of the community burned but the firefighters were able to stop the main fire right across the road.

We have two more days of light winds but Friday and Saturday gusts to the mid 20’s are expected.