Multiple wildfires continued burning across eastern Washington and the Inland Northwest, including the Bigelow fire near Spokane Valley, while smoke left Spokane skies hazy. Large fires on the Colville Reservation and in Douglas and Stevens counties also prompted evacuations.

Wildfire smoke moved into the Spokane region overnight, pushing air quality into the unhealthy range and triggering alerts from local monitors. Forecasters also warned of hot, windy weather and thunderstorms that could worsen fire danger.

Smoke from Central Washington wildfires pushed into Spokane on Thursday, raising air quality to unhealthy for sensitive groups and likely lingering into Friday. Forecasters cited the Labor Mountain and Lower Sugarloaf fires and gusty winds as primary drivers, with conditions expected to ease slightly Friday.

A wildfire near Lake Spokane in southern Stevens County grew to over 2,000 acres by Sunday, prompting evacuations as thick smoke blanketed the region.

Personnel from Spokane County Fire District 3 and the state Department of Natural Resources were working to contain the fires on Monday, while a record-breaking heat wave threatened to maintain ample supplies of dry air and fuel.