Wildfire & Preparedness
Stay informed and prepared during wildfire season with the latest fire updates, evacuation notices, road closures, burn restrictions, air quality alerts and wildfire safety resources. This section brings together timely reporting and practical preparation tips to help residents protect their homes, families, pets and communities before, during and after a wildfire.
Fire weather watch in effect Saturday
MOSES LAKE — The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for much of eastern Washington, includin…
Burn ban remains in effect; officials warn of fines, criminal penalties
MOSES LAKE — Grant County residents are being reminded that a countywide burn ban remains in effect through the end of September as officials warn that violati…
FIRE REPORT: State resources mobilized as Spokane area fires grow; Governor declares statewide emergency
SPOKANE — State and local firefighting resources continue battling the Spokane Area Fires after Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency Aug. 1 amid wh…
Smoke and unhealthy air quality to continue throughout the week
MOSES LAKE — The smoky skies and poor air quality are forecast to stick around the Columbia Basin, at least through most of this week. The National Weathe…
Forests prep salvage sales ahead of wildfire season
Thousands of acres of federal and state forestlands in the inland Pacific Northwest are being contracted out for salvage sales following mass blowdown events t…
New federal agency unifies wildland fire programs
In January of 2026 the U.S. Department of the Interior officially launched the U.S. Wildland Fire Service.
Get ready before an emergency strikes
Getting ready is half the battle — at least when it comes to fire preparedness.
Be prepared with a wildfire evacuation checklist
Be prepared with a wildfire evacuation checklist
Drought prospects looking dire this year, experts say
The question isn’t whether we’ll have a drought in the Inland Northwest this summer, according to regional experts. It’s just a question of how bad it will get.
Wildfire glossary of equipment and common terms
Wildfire glossary of equipment and common terms
Online wildfire resources to follow
The resources below can help those impacted by wildfires. While this listing is not comprehensive, it includes the most used and available disaster aid organiz…
Echoes of the 1926 wildfire season, a century later
An uneasy quiet settled over Superior, Montana on the night of July 17, 1926. Wind that had gusted throughout the afternoon suddenly calmed, leaving only the c…