Spokane Bishop Daly calls for prayers amid ‘devastating’ wildfires in Washington state

Bishop Thomas Daly of Spokane, Washington, is urging prayers and support for those affected by major wildfires near the diocese and throughout Washington state.

Data from the Washington state government as of Aug. 4 showed more than a dozen “large fires” throughout the state with more than 13,500 acres burned since July 31. The state has seen more than half a million acres burn to date in 2026.

Several large fires were burning mostly north and west of Spokane, which is located in the eastern part of the state just several miles from the Idaho border. The blazes have consumed hundreds of structures and forced thousands of local residents to evacuate.

In an Aug. 3 letter to the diocese, Daly — who has served as the bishop there since 2015 — urged locals to “join me in praying for our neighbors who have been forced to evacuate, those who have lost homes or property, and all whose lives have been disrupted by these fires.”

Spokane Bishop Thomas Daly surveys fire damage as a statue of the Blessed Mother stands nearby in Spokane, Washington, Aug. 3, 2026. | Credit: Diocese of Spokane

The bishop also urged prayers for emergency responders including firefighters, doctors,…