Spokane fires

[Hatchdog]

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 three 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.

[Mags]

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.

Thank you for letting us know. Sad for those affected, glad you're distant and safe.

[CT_Shooter]

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

[Hatchdog]

Here’s the pic of the Spokane Rifle Club 200 yard range showing the proximity to the river. As you can see the river is a bit on the narrow size in this location. I just heard an update and one of the 1000 acre fires has been reduced to 700 but the other 1000 acre fire is now increased to 3300 acres. Not the update we wanted to hear.

IMG_2028.jpeg (4.89 MiB) Viewed 290 times

[Hatchdog]

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

Thanks CT and yes the world seems to be burning up.

[Sir Henry]

That same area burned in the early 70’s.

[Hatchdog]

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.

[Sir Henry]

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.

A train was believed to start the 70’s fire. What started this one? Stay safe my friend.

[Coach]

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

[Hatchdog]

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.

[Sir Henry]

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.

Big fires can create their own wind.

[Ted124]

I find those fires extremely bizarre. I can't comment on it without getting into conspiracy theories or political bias.
We had/have our share of it here. Everybody knows. It's not normal, that's all I can comment.

[Hatchdog]

With the deepest sympathies for all affected by these and other fires I’ll make a selfish comment. And yes Ted, I agree with your assessment that also shall go unmentioned here.

Last year we nearly lost our recreational property we enjoyed for 18 years to wildfire. The fire burned to within one half mile then thankfully the wind changed and we were saved. (As well as many who lived full time nearby) This property was where I had a modest shooting range and where I did all of my shooting. The rifle club doubled the dues to $250 per year so I quit it and built this range. After last years fire we decided to sell the property while it was still marketable and not burned. My intent was to re-join the rifle club to do my shooting although it is only punching paper which is boring. Well that idea is now gone as the rifle club is burned up in this fire. Rather ironic would you say?

Now to check my selfishness. As I’m typing this I got a text from a buddy who informed me that two of our former co-workers homes are totally destroyed. I knew one of them was in the zone but not the other. Makes my shooting range whine pretty petty.

[CT_Shooter]

It's a sad time in Northwest America and around the globe. The deliberate destruction and loss I see on my Smart TV is hard to comprehend. You have my sympathy and good wishes, Hatch.

This is a NY Times article about the Spokane fires describing the start of one of them by a person who is identified as being mentally ill with a history of irrational and criminal behavior and who was later arrested and charged with arson.

Crazy people do crazy things -- like start deadly fires and, sometimes, wars.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/us/s ... =url-share

[Hatchdog]

Well sadly this morning’s update stated the count of structures lost or damaged is now at 850 with many of them homes completely destroyed. This number is expected to go up as more assessment is completed. So sad for all the folks affected. The Spokane community is really stepping up with aid but I just wonder where all these folks are going to relocate to.

CT, thanks for the NYT link. For a paper across the nation they got the info correct.