A fast growing blaze on Beacon Hill triggered level 3 evacuations amid red flag winds
A wildfire tearing up Beacon Hill in Spokane forced residents to flee this afternoon, as crews scrambled to corral flames spreading fast in dangerous conditions. Fire officials issued Level 3 go now evacuation orders just after 1 p.m., warning people in the threatened area to leave immediately. The blaze broke out near East Upriver Drive, across the river from Felts Field.
What we know about the Spokane fire
The fire started shortly after noon and grew with alarming speed, jumping from about 1 acre to 10 acres in roughly half an hour, according to a state Department of Natural Resources spokesman. It is burning on the mountain biking trails of Beacon Hill, and officials are urging the public to stay away so crews can work. The response is large, described as a three alarm fire drawing departments from across the region, with a helicopter scooping water from the Spokane River to drop on the flames.
Who needs to evacuate
The Level 3 evacuation covers the area bounded by Columbia Drive on the north, Upriver Drive on the south, Northwood on the east and Thierman on the west. Level 3 means the danger is immediate and residents should go now rather than stop to gather belongings. Spokane County Emergency Management has posted an interactive map so people can check whether their address falls inside the zone.
POWER SHUTOFF ALERT: Avista will cut power to about 1,800 customers in Spokane’s Indian Trail neighborhood around 1 p.m. Tuesday due to extreme fire weather conditions and a red flag warning.
— 4 News Now (@kxly4news) June 16, 2026
Why conditions are so dangerous
The timing could hardly be worse. The region is under a red flag warning, the National Weather Service’s alert for high fire danger driven by strong winds and low humidity. Those same winds can turn a small fire into a fast moving one within minutes, which is exactly what appears to have happened here. As a precaution, the utility Avista said it would cut power to parts of northwest Spokane during the warning to lower the risk of its equipment sparking new fires.
A second fire in the city
The Beacon Hill blaze was not the only fire keeping Spokane crews busy. Earlier today, firefighters worked a separate vegetation fire in People’s Park that burned about an acre of brush. Investigators were on scene to determine its cause, and crews expected the work to take several hours. The two fires underscore how primed the area is to burn right now.
What to do now
Anyone in or near the evacuation zone should leave without delay and avoid the Upriver Drive area entirely. Drivers are urged to steer clear so emergency vehicles can move freely. This is a developing situation, and conditions can change quickly, so residents should follow guidance from local emergency officials and monitor trusted local updates.
SOURCE: KXLY