Kitsap agencies assisting with Spokane fires

Published 1:30 am Thursday, August 6, 2026

Roughly 10,546 acres in Spokane County have burned as of Aug. 5 following the combination of three separate fires that occurred in the area at the beginning of the month. The fires consist of the Old Trails Fire, the Autumn Lane Fire, and the Fairview Fire.

About 65,000 people have evacuated within Spokane city limits, and 76,000 across all the fires. Officials say that over 800 structures have been destroyed across all three fires. As of Aug. 3, no firefighter or civilian injuries have been reported.

A Complex Incident Management Team has been set up with California Interagency Incident Management Team 7, Spokane County emergency management deputy director Chandra Fox said.

As of Aug 5, both the Autumn Lane and Old Trails Fires are 13% contained, while the Fairview Fire is 5% contained, per an update from the incident management team.

On Aug. 3, 37-year-old Spokane man Aaron Farinacci was arrested and is facing charges of first-degree arson for allegedly starting the Old Trails Fire. The cause and origins of the Autumn Lane Fire and Fairview Fire are under investigation, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Corporal Mark Gregory said.

Several departments in Kitsap County have deployed personnel to help contain the fires.

The Poulsbo Fire Department wrote in an Aug. 2 Facebook post that four wildland team members have been deployed to the Spokane fires. “Their current assignment includes structure protection and hotspot mop-up operations. This work involves searching through burned homes and debris to locate and extinguish remaining hot spots, helping prevent flare-ups, and reducing the risk of additional structure losses,” the post says. PFD chief Jim Gillard said the engine crew is anticipated to be deployed for two weeks.

Bainbridge Island Fire Department chief Jared Moravec said the agency deployed a Type 6 wildland engine Aug. 1 to Spokane, with two firefighters, and previously deployed a water tender with two firefighters July 24 to the Stinlahekin Fire in Okanogan County. “Deployments can last up to 14 days working on the line before units have to return or crew members have to be relieved,” he said.

South Kitsap Fire & Rescue chief Jeff Faucett said the agency has a tender deployed at the Spokane fires as part of the South Puget Sound Strike Team. Bremerton Fire Department chief Pat McGanney confirmed two personnel have been deployed to the fires as well.

North Kitsap Fire & Rescue chief Rick LaGrandeur said the agency has not deployed any wildland team members to the Spokane area fires, as six personnel are currently assigned to other deployments in Washington and Oregon. LaGrandeur said the department ensures they maintain minimum daily staffing levels before deploying resources. “In the event that our local calls exceed our own capability, we have a county-wide mutual aid agreement to provide resources to other fire districts when needed. This is always the case, no matter what time of year or why mutual aid is needed (wildland fire, structure fires, etc.).”

Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue fire officials confirmed that no personnel are responding to the Spokane fires as of Aug. 4. “We currently have a wildland team (Brush 56 with a crew of three people and a strike team leader trainee) near Tonasket on the Sinlahekin fire,” CKF&R spokesperson Ileana LiMarzi said.