The Inlander9%
Spokane family trapped on Long Lake amid historic wildfires; plus, resources for those affected 4%
By Madison Pearson2%
8/2/2026, 3:59:00 PM
BS Summary: This article contains 18 faulty reasoning types, including Indoctrination, Attempt to Sell a Product or Service, and Appeal to Emotion, with Negativity Bias as the most egregious example at 11.5% saturation with 150 hits. Analysis detected 950 faulty-reasoning hits from 1,306 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 12.7% and a BS Rank of 4% (25,310 of 26,282 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 96.30% of the article peer group.
FIRE
Spokane family trapped on Long Lake amid historic wildfires; plus, resources for those affected
By Madison Pearson photo
As will be remembered in the Spokane history books, on Sat.
Aug. 1, around noon, a fire broke out in the West Plains between Airway Heights and Riverside State Park.
The fire, called the Old Trails Fire, quickly spread as wind gusts up to 45 mph and sustained winds of 10-20 mph ushered the flames throughout northwest Spokane.
Two hours after the Old Trails Fire began, another fire, the Fairview Fire, began in Mead.
By 2:30 pm on Saturday, there were two fires burning within Spokane County and fire weather conditions were set to continue until 8 pm that night, according to the National Weather Service.
The story of the fire will never be forgotten by those who lived through it, like Micaela Jaime and her family, who reside in Spokane’s Five Mile neighborhood and were at Long Lake celebrating her daughter’s 12th birthday around the time the Old Trails Fire started.
“We got a notification that Five Mile had a level three evacuation and our dog was locked in our house,” she says.
“We were freaking out, so we got in our car and tried to go back home to get the dog, but all the roads were closed so we couldn’t get back up to Five Mile.
We had some good friends go grab our dog and we thought we were safe at Long Lake.”
However, just before 4 pm, the Autumn Lane Fire started just northwest of the Old Trails Fire and directly south of Long Lake, putting Jaime and her family in danger once more.
“We were sitting out on the patio of my parents’ house and within an instant, the Autumn Fire just blew up on the hillside,” she says.
“It was just crazy fire everywhere.
So we just started trying to load up any of our valuables at my parents' house into our boat.”
Jaime, her kids and other family members, totaling 15 people, loaded up two boats and headed to the middle of Long Lake just before 7 pm.
“The hillside was engulfed in flames within five minutes.
Houses were exploding,” she says.
“All you could hear was explosions everywhere.”
Footage of the Autumn Lane Fire from Long Lake.
Jaime says they could feel the heat from the flames from the middle of the lake, and took video of the blaze (video above).
Ash was falling from above and getting into their eyes.
Smoke was quickly engulfing them and the hillside was fully ablaze.
Jaime and her family members remained on their boats in the middle of Long Lake until 1 am when their friends who live near Tum Tum offered them refuge in a cabin.
Jaime says their home in Five Mile is thankfully still standing, but many of their neighbors did not share the same fate.
“We went back up to our house and gathered all of our valuables,” she says.
“But we’re really just trying to figure out how we can help some of our friends who have lost their places.
It’s just so devastating.”
As of Sun., Aug. 2 at 2:30 pm, the three fires within Spokane County are still actively burning, and crews are working on containment in the more favorable, less windy weather conditions.
In a press release sent out by the City of Spokane today at 12:30 pm, the Spokane Police Department is urging residents to stay out of wildfire evacuation zones unless you are a resident evacuating, as those areas remain dangerous and fire conditions can change rapidly.
If you are in need of resources, please see the list below for shelter information, places to receive meals, organizations willing to board displaced animals, places to donate and more.
SEND US YOUR NEWS TIPS
If you or someone you know has a story to share or news tips regarding one of the three fires, please send an email to editor@inlander.com as we continue our coverage into the coming week.
EVACUATION SHELTERS
SPOKANE CONVENTION CENTER, 334 W.
Spokane Falls Blvd.
Free parking, pets are welcome.
SPOKANE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, 404 N.
Havana St.
Enter through red gate off Broadway.
Animal shelter and RV grounds are open for those with evacuated animals.
FOOD
NUESTRAS RAÍCES, 1214 E.
Sprague Ave.
Beginning at 3:30 pm on Sun, Aug.
2, Nuestras Raíces will be serving hot meals for individuals and families impacted by the fires.
The nonprofit’s clothing bank will also be open who may need clothing or other basic necessities.
If you would like to support this effort, you can also purchase a meal.
Every dollar raised will go directly toward purchasing groceries and bottled water to continue serving those affected.
FEAST WORLD KITCHEN, First Presbyterian Parking Lot, 318 S.
Cedar St.
From 3-6 pm on Sunday, or while supplies last, Feast World Kitchen is offering free boxed meals for those affected by the fires and first responders.
You can also support the community meal fund by donating to purchase groceries at this link: gcld.co/P23kkrZ.
SALA THAI, 12914 W.
Sunset Hwy., Airway Heights
Until 5 pm on Sunday, Sala Thai is giving away trays of food to first responders and those affected by the Spokane fires.
Call 509-244-4800 to receive a tray.
ANIMALS
SPOKANIMAL, 710 N.
Napa St.
Free boarding for displaced cats and dogs.
SpokAnimal is also accepting donations of cat, dog, kitten and puppy food at their clinic building located at 715 N.
Crestline St.
In general, animals are welcome at both evacuation shelters, with livestock and other large animals being directed to the Spokane County Fairgrounds shelter.
GENERAL
The City of Spokane’s H.O.M.E.
(Healthcare, Outreach, Multidisciplinary Engagement, Economic Security) Starts Here Fund has been temporarily designated to support individuals and families affected by the ongoing wildfires.
Every dollar donated will go directly toward meeting immediate needs and supporting recovery efforts for those impacted.
Community members who would like to contribute can do so by visiting my.spokanecity.org/donate/.
GARLAND THEATER and BON BON, 924 W.
Garland Ave.
The Garland Theater and Bon Bon are accepting donations of non-perishable food items, clothing, diapers, pet supplies, toiletries and more.
Those affected by the fires can stop by and take what they need, no questions asked.
Anything not picked up will be donated to Spokanimal and Caritas Food Bank.
SPLAT ARTIST CO-OP
On Fri, Aug.
7, Splat will be hosting a donation drive for those displaced by the fires.
Proceeds raised will go directly to the organizations providing support to wildfire victims, their families and first responders.
If you cannot provide monetary support, bring donations of hygiene products, pet supplies, children/baby items, food, clothing, blankets.
N95 masks and water.
The event will feature live music from Circus N0thing and egggaxing, poems from Foray for the Arts and zines, stickers and tea available from Lunarium.
ASIAN COMMUNITY CENTER, 205 N.
University Road, Spokane Valley
The Asian Community Center, in partnership with the Filipino American Northwest Association (FANA) and Nourish Spokane, is serving as a community donation drop-off site.
They are accepting donations of gently used clothing, blankets, household goods, kitchen essentials, toiletries, non-perishable food, pet food and supplies and other essential items.
YMCA, Central Spokane (930 N.
Monroe St.) and Spokane Valley (2421 N.
Discovery Pl., Spokane Valley)
Until 9 pm tonight, community members affected by the fires may use YMCA locations to rest, charge electronic devices, take a shower and rest.
The North Spokane YMCA location may close due to air quality concerns, but the Central Spokane and Spokane Valley locations will remain open.
PLATO’S CLOSET, 13004 E.
Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley
If you were directly affected by the fires and need clothing, Plato’s Closet is offering clothing in sizes 00 to 4XL plus men’s clothing.
Speakers
2speakers25%attributed speech974writer words
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100%flagged-word coverageSpokane Police Department
46 attributed words14% of attributed speech33% writer coverage
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