Old Trails Fire: Speed, Smoke, and Sacrifice | Spokane News

Spokane News Today | 2 Min | The Daily News Now! · Aug 8, 2026 · 1m

A wildfire tore through Spokane on August 1st, fueled by extreme winds and heat, racing from Airway Heights to engulf neighborhoods near Westgate Park within hours. Residents were caught off guard, many trapped as flames closed in, with some desperately calling loved ones before being forced to flee. A heroic Spokane officer saved a man in a wheelchair moments before his home was consumed. Later, a 37-year-old man confessed to starting the fire — suspected arson — adding a chilling layer to the tragedy. Hundreds of homes were destroyed, leaving a city in ashes and a community reeling from the…