UPDATE: June 17 at 9:35 p.m.
SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Updated evacuation levels are in effect as of 9:00 p.m. for the Upriver Fire, with some areas reduced while Level 3 evacuations stayed in place near the fire line.
Spokane County Fire District 9 reported that firefighters and regional and state partners helped lower evacuation levels in some neighborhoods. Areas still under Level 3 remained closed to the public because of continued fire danger.
Residents in Level 2 zones can return home, but crews warned they should be ready to leave again if conditions changed.
The downgraded Level 2 evacuation area includes residents between Thierman, Northwood and Center on the west side, Gunning and Wellesley on the south side, Argonne on the east side and Bigelow Gulch on the north side.
Spokane County Emergency Management
Fire crews continue working through the night to strengthen containment lines and protect threatened areas.
Officials also urge people to check the evacuation map for the latest area details.
13:19
FULL PRESS CONFERENCE: Officials confirm some structures lost in Upriver Drive fire near Spokane
UPDATE: June 17 at 7:25 p.m.
Spokane County emergency officials said updated evacuation levels for the Upriver Fire are set to take effect at 9:00 p.m. tonight.
Some evacuation zones were reduced as fire crews made progress, but Level 3 evacuations stayed in place closest to the fire line. Officials said Level 3 remained dangerous and the public could not enter those areas.
People in Level 2 zones could return home, but officials said they should be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
Article updated June 17, 2026 1:53 p.m. and originally published June 16, 2026 1:13 p.m.
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said during a press conference that he’d been told 15 homes were lost “as of last night” in the Upriver Fire.
He also said there is a missing persons report made by a family member and that the place they plan to look for the person is “not safe enough for law enforcement to search.”
Evacuation efforts prompted law enforcement to contact 1,500 residents individually in the first four hours, Nowels said, and over 400 people were evacuated after law enforcement knocked on their door.
He emphasized the importance of obeying evacuation orders – both in terms of leaving the area when they were told and not re-entering when told not to.
“As we go through the aftermath of recovery, lessons learned will be that people could have been a lot more compliant with fire’s orders, law enforcements orders,” Nowels said.
He said resources were working with a line of 45 people waiting to be escorted back to their homes to pick up medication they “absolutely need” for “the next 24 to 36 hours.” He asked that people don’t take advantage of “limited resources to take people in, it’s making those who have critical needs wait longer.”
It is not safe enough for people to go back to their homes to retrieve valuables, Nowels said.
Updated: June 17 at 12:34 p.m.
The Northwest Washington Interagency Incident Management Team 2, which is the team managing the Upriver Fire, said the fire is still 10% contained and estimated its size at 222 acres.
300 personal are at the scene and additional resources are continuing to arrive, the team in a Wednesday afternoon update.
The evacuations are still in place and Spokane Valley United Methodist Church is still the evacuation center.
Updated: June 17 at 6:52 a.m.
4:54
Upriver Fire in Spokane Valley burning 200+ acres
SPOKANE, Wash. – Washington Governor Bob Ferguson requested a fire management assistance declaration from FEMA for a destructive wildfire burning north of Upriver Drive east of Spokane on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s evacuation orders stayed in place overnight and roadblocks enforcing them were staffed, according to a Tuesday night update from the Spokane County Fire District 9. The update estimated the fire at 250 acres and containment at 10%.
Spokane County Evacuation Address Lookup map at 3:14 p.m. on June 16, 2026
Courtesy of Spokane County
Fire District 9 Chief Matt Vinci said over 75 personnel and 22 apparatus were working overnight to protect residents. The fire command center at the scene said people should not fly drones in the area because it will force firefighters to ground their aircrafts.
Multiple primary residences have been destroyed, according to the Incoming type 3 team public information officer.
Darrel and Vhelma addy reflected on being displaced by evacuations due to the wildfire burning north of Upriver Drive. As of 8 p.m., level 3 e…
The community came out to support those displaced by the Upriver Fire on Tuesday. As of 8 p.m., level 3 evacuations were in place north to Big…
Emergency evacuations remained in place north of Upriver Drive just east of Spokane Tuesday evening. Fire officials confirmed some structures …
Officials confirmed in a press conference Tuesday that some structures were lost in the fire burning north of Upriver Drive just east of Spoka…
In Governor Ferguson’s Tuesday post on social media, he said he expected the FEMA request to be approved later that evening.
The governor wrote that the declaration would give the state access to federal funding for the “extraordinary” costs in fighting the fire.
“My thoughts are with the first responders fighting this blaze, and with the families evacuated from their homes,” the governor wrote in a statement.
1:21
15 homes lost in Upriver Fire near Spokane, FEMA assistance approved
Updated: June 16 at 6:40 p.m.
Officials confirmed that some structures were lost in a wildfire east of Spokane, but they couldn’t confirm how many in a press conference Tuesday evening.
Firefighters from Spokane County Fire District 9, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and other agencies gave an update on the fire and answered reporter questions for about 15 minutes as crews continued grappling with the blaze.
Officials couldn’t clarify the size of the fire and noted that early estimates are made by crews in aircraft over the fire, resulting in a wide range of estimates. The Department of Natural Resources has reported that the fire has burned in an area as large as 350 acres.
Updated: June 16 at 6:30 p.m.
Courtesy of Spokane County Fire District #9
A wildland fire in the Camp Sekani area along Upriver Drive prompted level 3 evacuations and state fire response involving multiple fire departments crews, dozers and aircrafts.
Information is available below about evacuation orders, impact, fire response and emergency shelters.
At least five homes have been burned, according to the Spokesman-Review.
1:00
Upriver Fire near Beacon Hill brings agencies togetherEvacuation orders:
Evacuation orders have expanded since they were originally announced just after 1 p.m.
Level 3 evacuations span roughly from Upriver Drive across from Felts Field Area Park to Bigelow Gulch Road, and from Thierman Road to Argonne Road. Level 2 evacuations span from Espe Road to Pleasant Prairie Road, and Wellesley Avenue to Uhlig Road.
Spokane County Evacuation Address Lookup map at 3:14 p.m. on June 16, 2026
Courtesy of Spokane County
Spokane Regional Emergency Communications announced the first round of evacuations in a mass text message at 1:08 p.m., saying, “Residents [in the original evacuation area] must leave now due to the life threatening conditions in your area!” Additional texts were not sent for the expanded evacuations, which are instead reflected on the Spokane County Evacuation Address Lookup.
The Spokane County Evacuation Address Lookup is the county’s BETA Site for up-to-date official evacuation information.
1:09
Mount Spokane High School command center weighs when to ease evacuationsImpact of the Upriver Wildfire:
The Upriver Fire is threatening 500 homes, power lines, water supply and additional infrastructure, according to a 4:24 p.m. update from Deputy State Fire Marshal Amy Thorton.
NonStop Local’s partner, the Spokesman-Review, reported that at least five homes were burned as of 4:25 p.m. on Tuesday.
DNR wildfire communication manager Ryan Rodruck said in an interview with NonStop Local that people in the area are likely to see a strong response from both the air and ground.
“Right now we have that Upriver Fire at approximately 350 acres and we are devoting significant resources to that fire, both DNR and local fire districts,” Rodruck said. “Folks are going to be seeing a tremendous air presence.”
He asked people to respect evacuation orders, “not just for your safety,” but also for “the safety of our firefighters who need access to those areas in order to engage in structure protection.”
He added that crews plan to work on the fire into the evening and that aircrafts would stay on the fire as long as daylight allowed.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Thorton said in her 4:24 p.m. update.
A shelter at Spokane Valley United Methodist Church remained open for evacuees as the wildfire response continued.
Wildfire information:
The wildfire is at 352 acres large, according to an 3:42 p.m. update from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Air Attack Team. Thorton, the Deputy State Fire Marshal maintained a smaller estimate at 292 acres in a 4:24 p.m. announcement.
The fire has grown since it started a bit after noon on Tuesday.
At 2:49 p.m., the DNR Air Team estimated the fire was 292 acres.At 1:50 p.m., DNR told NonStop Local the fire was around 50 acres large. Around the same time, Spokane Valley Fire District #9 said around the same time that the fire was 100 acres large.DNR said the fire started at 12:24 p.m.
Both agencies said around 2 p.m. that the fire was 0% contained.
DNR said several aircrafts, dozers and five state strike crews are responding to the scene. Structures are threatened, the department said.
Robert Gray, the public information officer Spokane County Fire District #9, said the fire was fast moving and said people should avoid the area.
The acreage is unknown at the moment, but structures are threatening and multiple aircrafts are on the way to aid fire response, Gray said.
The Spokane Valley Fire District said firefighters from multiple agencies were working to contain the fire. Spokane County Fire Districts 9, 4, 8, 3, state and county agencies are at the scene.
Due to gusty winds, hot and dry conditions, NonStop Local meteorologists set a fire weather alert for Tuesday, June 16. Rodruck from DNR said these types of conditions make fire prevention especially important and urged people to follow burn bans.
“Respect those burn bans where they are in place, keep those sparks off the landscape, and hopefully we will see less of those initial attack fires because of course the easiest fire to fight is the one that never starts,” he said.
3:00
100-acre fire east of SpokaneEmergency shelter available:
American Red Cross opened an emergency shelter in response to the fire. The Wildfire Shelter is open at the Spokane Valley United Methodist Church at 115 N Raymond Rd in Spokane Valley.
Red Cross said assistance was available at most shelters for urgent needs.
“If there is time to safely do so, evacuees are encouraged to bring the following for each member of their family: prescription and emergency medication, extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies, important documents, and other comfort items. Additionally, special items for children and infants, such as diapers, formulas, and toys, can be helpful for longer shelter stays,” Red Cross said in its announcement.
The Millwood Community Presbyterian Church at 3223 N Marguerite Rd also said it was open and available to anyone who had to evacuate from the fire.
2:40
Upriver Fire threatens homes
Article originally posted June 16, 2026 1:13 p.m.