Photo by Issy Bailey on Unsplash
A rapidly spreading wildfire is forcing residents out of their homes east of Spokane, Washington. The Spokane Upriver Fire evacuation June 2026 emergency began around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday when the blaze ignited near Upriver Drive, across the Spokane River from Felts Field. High winds quickly carried the fire through the trees. As a result, fire crews dramatically expanded the evacuation zone throughout the afternoon. This is a developing situation and updates will follow as new information becomes available.
Level 3 and level 2 evacuation zones explained
Fire officials have issued level 3 go now evacuation orders for the most at-risk areas. That zone stretches from Thierman on the west to Argonne on the east, with Bigelow Gulch marking the northern boundary and Upriver Drive the southern edge. Anyone inside that zone must leave immediately without delay.
Just after 3:00 p.m., officials also expanded the level 2 evacuation area. That zone now extends north of Bigelow Gulch and east of Argonne, running from Espe on the west to Lehman on the east. Residents in the level 2 zone should standby and be fully prepared to leave on short notice. Conditions can change rapidly, and a level 2 designation can become a level 3 order very quickly during an active wildfire.
The Red Cross has established an evacuation center for displaced residents at Spokane Valley Methodist Church, located at 115 N. Raymond. Anyone who has left the evacuation zone and needs shelter or assistance should proceed there.
Who is responding and how
This fire has a 3-alarm designation. That means fire departments from across the region have sent crews to assist. Every local agency currently has firefighters on the scene. Furthermore, a helicopter is actively scooping water from the Spokane River to support aerial suppression efforts. A state fire management team is expected to arrive Tuesday evening and will take over coordination of the response at that point.
Avista Utilities shut down electrical lines in the area of the Upriver Fire to reduce additional risk. That de-energization affects some neighborhoods in the immediate vicinity of the fire zone. Separately, Avista also announced plans to cut power to parts of northwest Spokane as a precautionary measure due to the broader red flag warning in effect across the region.
Spokane Fire District 9 is urging anyone who does not live in the affected area to stay away. Do not approach the fire boundaries or the evacuation zones. Unnecessary traffic in those areas slows emergency response and puts lives at risk.
Impact on schools and families
The fire is creating serious disruptions for families in the West Valley School District. Bus routes serving Centennial Middle School and Pasadena Park Elementary School pass through the evacuation zone. Some routes have already been diverted. Parents who can safely reach Pasadena Park Elementary School are encouraged to pick up their children there directly. Students who remain in the evacuation zone and cannot be picked up immediately will be allowed to stay at the school until their parents or guardians arrive.
Weather conditions fueling the fire
The region is currently under a red flag warning driven by high winds and low humidity. Those 2 factors together create extremely dangerous fire weather conditions. Low humidity dries out vegetation quickly. High winds spread flames faster than crews can contain them and push fire in unpredictable directions. Both conditions are contributing to the rapid expansion of the Upriver Fire throughout the afternoon.
Anyone in or near the affected areas should monitor local emergency alerts closely. Evacuation zones may expand further as the fire continues to develop under current weather conditions.
Source: KXLY 4 News Spokane
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