Spokane has experienced an unusually high number of outdoor fires since the start of 2025, and local fire officials say a significant share appear to have been set on purpose. According to Spokane Fire Department data, 384 brush fires were reported inside city limits during that period, and investigators determined 87 of those were intentionally ignited.
Numbers outpace comparable cities
The overall count of outdoor fires reported in Spokane was 464, a total that officials say is at least double that of several similarly sized western cities tracked by the National Emergency Response Information System. Officials cited comparative totals including 117 in Yakima, 151 in Boise, 138 in Bend, Oregon, and 197 in Billings.
| City | Reported outdoor fires |
|---|---|
| Spokane | 464 |
| Yakima | 117 |
| Boise | 151 |
| Bend, Ore. | 138 |
| Billings | 197 |
“Looking at the comparative numbers and cities near our size, we seem to have more,” said Spokane Fire Department Lt. Shane Sanders, reflecting the department’s concern over the volume of incidents.
Causes and consequences
Fire investigators and law enforcement point to multiple causes. Several officials connected a substantial share of brush fires to the city’s unhoused population, citing escaped campfires during burn bans and instances where people attempt to push others out of encampments by setting nearby materials alight.
“It’s heavily related to the homeless population,” said Spokane Fire Capt. Lee Venning, a fire investigator. “So, a lot of these fires are either escaped campfires during burn bans or we’ve seen some stuff that looks like they’re trying to burn each other out of camps.”
At the same time, Sanders acknowledged the problem is broader: “We have quite a bit of fire starters here and I don’t know what the motivation is.” That mix of accidental and intentional ignitions has translated into operational strain for firefighters, as even small blazes can grow rapidly when high heat and wind are present.
Recent arrests and the backdrop of a major wildfire
Law enforcement arrested several suspected arsonists after the Aug. 1 Spokane Complex fires. Those fires proved catastrophic: investigators estimate they likely caused more than $1 billion in damage, destroyed more than 800 homes and forced roughly 65,000 people to evacuate. Most of the subsequent arson arrests involved incidents that caused relatively limited damage — for example, a fence near a Dairy Queen on West Francis Avenue and a quarter-acre burn along the Appleway Trail — but officials say even small blazes can turn dangerous under the right conditions.
High heat and prevailing southwest winds are a particular concern on the west side of the city and the West Plains. Officials warned that a small, unattended fire can become a rapidly spreading emergency that threatens homes and infrastructure, the situation that unfolded during the Old Trails fire earlier this year.
Operational and community impacts
The frequency of outdoor fires carries direct impacts for Spokane’s emergency services and residents. Repeated brush-fire responses consume firefighter hours and resources, stress local incident-management capacity during simultaneous calls and raise the likelihood of property loss and evacuations if a blaze reaches developed areas.
- 384 brush fires reported in Spokane since start of 2025
- 87 brush fires determined to be intentionally set within city limits
- 464 total outdoor fires reported in Spokane, higher than several comparable cities
Fire officials say preventing these incidents will require a combination of enforcement, outreach to people living outdoors, and public education about fire safety and burn bans. For now, Spokane residents can expect continued emphasis from the Spokane Fire Department on rapid response and investigation as the city attempts to reduce the number of avoidable and maliciously set fires.
