Hope amidst heartbreak

Residents who were forced to evacuate the Old Trails fire want nothing more than to return to their homes, but Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels announced Wednesday that most Level 3 “go now” evacuations won’t be lifted anytime soon.

Section:Gallery

Thu., Aug. 6, 2026

A note of compassion is left in the Indian Trail Neighborhood on Thursday in Spokane.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Revie
"Our house is still standing and we're thankful for that," says David Deroshia as he wheels his suitcase through his Indian Trail neighborhood on Thursday, August 6, 2026. After staying with friends since Saturday he and his wife Gail are flying to Kirkland to stay with their daughter untill the evacuation orders are lifted.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review
Allison Hurt, left and Ashley Wheeler bring some of their belongings out of their Indian Trail neighborhood on Thursday, August 6, 2026. They were out of town when the fires broke out. They can move back into their home after the evacuations have been lifted.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review
A bruned out home sits in front of homes spared by the fire in the Indian Trail neighborhood on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review
A stone statue sits in the middle of a burned out home in the Indian Trail neighborhood on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review
The Little Free Library is left standing in the Indian Trail neighborhood on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review