Just weeks before devastating wildfires hit, Spokane practiced a mass evacuation – the drill paid of

When a wildfire is headed your way, evacuating may sound straightforward: Gather your belongings, get in the car and leave.

In reality, it is a person can face.

Fast-moving fires, shifting winds, heavy smoke and limited escape routes can quickly . In many wildfire-prone communities, especially those built into steep hillsides or surrounded by forests, neighborhoods often have only one or two roads leading to safety. When hundreds or even thousands of residents try to leave at the same time, traffic can slow to a crawl.

Recent disasters – including the that devastated Paradise, California; the in 2025; and now the that have burned – demonstrated how rapidly changing fire conditions can overwhelm evacuation plans. In Paradise, for example, the , and a state report found residents were confused by the evacuation advisories.

The challenge isn’t only the roads. Extensive research shows it’s .

Residents must decide when to leave, what to take, which route to follow and where to go, often while under intense stress. Research has consistently shown that factors such as risk perception, preparedness, confidence in evacuation plans and familiarity with local routes all influence whether people evacuate early, delay leaving or choose to stay behind.

That’s where evacuation drills, just three months before the destructive wildfires, can make a difference.

The value of practice

Rather than asking residents to imagine what they would do during an emergency, . Families experience how long it takes to prepare, navigate neighborhood roads and reach safety. Emergency managers can observe traffic patterns, identify bottlenecks and evaluate whether existing evacuation plans are realistic.

In late April 2026, Spokane conducted a large, highly publicized evacuation drill in areas southeast of some of the neighborhoods threatened by fire a few months later, and officials and residents .

The city of Spokane, led by in partnership with the Spokane Fire Department, held its in the Eagle Ridge neighborhood in April 2026. More than participated, nearly three times the number that took part in the city’s first drill the previous year, making it one of the largest neighborhood evacuation exercises of its kind in the region.

The value of drills extended far beyond counting vehicles. The city and directions that were most effective and other challenges. The exercise also encouraged residents to sign up for emergency alerts, familiarize themselves with evacuation routes and think through critical decisions before an actual wildfire threatened their homes.

who also studies disaster response at Boise State University, and I was in April. Afterward, I asked Nuss about the benefits of the drill.

“The feedback has been encouraging, particularly around preparedness and ensuring people are signed up for alerts and notifications,” Nuss told me. “Beyond the evacuation exercise itself, the event increased awareness of wildfire evacuation procedures and helped residents better understand how to prepare and respond.”

Spokane puts its lessons to work

The value of practicing before disaster strikes is no longer theoretical in Spokane. On Aug. 1, 2026, three wildfires began racing through suburban neighborhoods . More than their homes and neighborhoods.

The city’s of evacuation response times and how to deploy traffic assistance also mattered. The city amplified that had been issued the day before, and it quickly deployed officers and to alert neighborhoods, direct traffic and open emergency shelters for residents. The Veterans Affairs hospital was ready to when the “go now” order was issued to evacuate patients and medical staff to other hospitals or shelters.

The three fires, collectively known as the Spokane Complex Fire, burned hundreds of homes to their foundations as the flames moved quickly from house to house. Residents had little time to escape, yet .

For those who participated in or heard about the drill, the decisions they had to make in August may have felt more familiar, helping transform preparation into action when every minute counts.

The 2026 Spokane wildfires, and the Gray and Oregon fires that , are part of a broader pattern of at the edges of wildlands across the western United States. As – areas where homes and communities border or intermingle with flammable vegetation – the has become increasingly urgent.

So, what does an ideal evacuation look like?

The most effective evacuations begin long before a wildfire – or or – starts.

First, create a . That includes thinking about the , planning where to meet and what to do if your family is separated, and knowing where you’ll go, whether that’s a shelter, a hotel or a friend’s house.

To be ready during high-risk periods:

• Have a ready with essential medications, important documents, pet supplies and clothing.
• Identify multiple evacuation routes and a safe destination.
• Sign up for local emergency alerts and monitor trusted sources, such as the city’s or county’s emergency management websites or social media pages, for updates.
• And, of course, participate in planned evacuation drills to test your household evacuation plans. If your community doesn’t hold evacuation drills, . You’ll quickly see that getting everything and everyone out the door can be more time-consuming than you think. You can also ask your local emergency management office to hold a drill in your neighborhood.

When a wildfire is nearby, pay attention to official sources. Pack your vehicle as soon as you know there might be a problem, and be ready to go. Once an evacuation order is issued, leave promptly. Follow official routes, and expect heavy traffic and limited visibility.

It’s easier to keep everyone safe if you’ve prepared, have a plan and have practiced it.