Eastern Washington is under siege from multiple fast-moving wildfires this weekend, with the Lyons Ferry Fire emerging as the region's largest and most concerning incident. As of July 17–18, 2026, the fire has grown to approximately 30,000 acres near Kahlotus in the southeastern corner of Adams County, pouring dense smoke across the Spokane metropolitan area.

Lyons Ferry Fire

The Lyons Ferry Fire ignited in the rolling, grass and shrub-covered terrain along the Snake River corridor and spread rapidly under hot, dry, and breezy conditions. The Adams County Sheriff's Office confirmed the fire reached 30,000 acres as of the morning of July 17, and it has remained one of the most active large fires in Washington state.

The fire is burning near Kahlotus in Adams County, in an area dominated by dryland wheat farming and native shrub-steppe. Washington State Department of Natural Resources personnel are among the agencies responding, and state fire mobilization resources have been requested to assist.

Other Large Washington Fires

The Lyons Ferry Fire is not alone. As of July 18, Washington has eight large fires on the books, with three standing out for their size and proximity to communities:

  • Royal Lake Fire — approximately 12,000 acres
  • Kaiser Canyon Fire — approximately 2,200 acres
  • Neff Jones Fire — burning in proximity to Whitman and Franklin counties alongside the Lyons Ferry and other incidents

Smoke Impacts on Spokane

Residents in Spokane and surrounding communities woke up to widespread smoke and reduced air quality Friday morning, largely attributed to the Lyons Ferry Fire. The Washington Smoke Blog reported that eastern Washington — particularly the Spokane area — was "getting hammered" by smoke drifting north and east from the fire.

Western Washington and the Cascades are receiving some relief from onshore Pacific flow, keeping air quality in the good range west of the mountains. However, areas to the north and east of active fires in eastern Washington and Oregon are expected to continue experiencing smoke through the weekend and into next week.

State Resources Mobilized

Washington DNR has activated its statewide fire mobilization system in response to the outbreak. The DNR fire dashboard is being updated in real time with current incident information, and the public is encouraged to monitor dnr.wa.gov for the latest on fires affecting Washington communities.

Residents in affected areas should avoid outdoor exertion when smoke is heavy, keep windows and doors closed, and run air purifiers if available. Those with respiratory conditions, the elderly, and children are at highest risk from smoke exposure.