Smoke, Fire and Ash: Spokane's story of loss, courage and recovery from the devastating fires of 2026

The smoke over the Spokane area was thick enough to blot out the sun, but it never dimmed the spirit of the people who called it home. "Smoke, Fire and Ash: Spokane's story of loss, courage and recovery from the devastating fires of 2026" is a poignant tribute to the strength and resilience of a community that would not be broken. This beautifully crafted 160-page record of what the region lost and how neighbors started putting it back together is a testament to the human spirit. Through powerful photographs and moving narratives from Spokesman-Review journalists, you'll meet the crews who worked through the night, the neighbors who showed up with truck beds full of water and clothes, and the families who walked back into the ash to rebuild. Every page honors the indomitable will of a region that refused to be defeated, a lasting reminder that even after the darkest disaster, hope and recovery prevail. The Old Trails, Fairview and Autumn Lane fires moved through Spokane County over a single weekend. More than 800 structures were lost. Roughly 65,000 people left home carrying whatever they could hold. Spokesman-Review reporters and photographers were in those neighborhoods from the first night, and they stayed after the trucks left. "Smoke, Fire and Ash" collects their photography and reporting into a 160-page record of what the region lost and how neighbors started putting it back together. The Spokesman-Review is committed to ensuring a portion of any proceeds go directly to those impacted by the Spokane Complex wildfires.