Wildfires in US' Spokane burn 600 structures, force evacuation of 60,000 people: ‘We are not out of danger’

Spokane, a city in the northwestern United States, witnessed rapidly spreading wildfires that tore through the region on August 2, causing widespread destruction, as officials said hundreds of structures were burned to the ground.What we knowThousands of people were asked to evacuate their homes on August 1 and overnight into August 2 after three separate wildfires broke out in and around the city in eastern Washington state, AFP reported.According to reports, roughly 600 homes, businesses and other buildings were destroyed by fast-moving wildfires that were driven by strong winds and rising temperatures. Further, the National Weather Service (NWS) had warned of "extremely critical fire weather conditions" in the area because of strong winds and exceptional dryness.Quick answers to key questions•5 QUESTIONSThe wildfires in Spokane were primarily fueled by strong winds and exceptionally dry conditions, exacerbated by ongoing drought and climate change.Wildfires in Spokane have destroyed approximately 600 homes, businesses, and other structures, causing widespread devastation.Evacuation orders were issued for Spokane residents due to rapidly spreading wildfires that posed life-threatening conditions and threatened homes and infrastructure.Emergency shelters have been established at the Spokane Convention Center and local fairgrounds to assist evacuees, providing temporary accommodation and support.As of the latest reports, the wildfires in Spokane remained at zero percent containment, highlighting the challenging conditions for firefighting efforts.Footage from Sunday showed the aftermath of the wildfires, with dozens of homes reduced to ashes, leaving only brick fireplaces and foundations standing, while several neighbouring houses remained largely untouched.However, later on Sunday (August 2), weather conditions improved as winds eased, but the wildfires remained at zero per cent containment, according to officials.The Old Trails fire, the largest of the three wildfires burning in Spokane, crossed the Spokane River on Saturday afternoon and spread into the city limits.According to the government's evacuation map, authorities issued the highest-level evacuation alert for swathes of northern Spokane, affecting thousands of people within the city limits. As authorities set up a fire evacuation shelter at the Spokane Convention Center, the three fires had burned a total of 5,390 acres (2,181 hectares) as of Sunday morning.Spokane Mayor, Washington Governor issue statementsIn a press briefing, Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown called it the "worst natural disaster our region has faced," and added, "Hundreds of homes and structures have been lost. We are still assessing the potential for lives to be lost." She went on to say, "To the people who are suffering right now in our region from either loss or uncertainty... our hearts go out to you. We are here for you for the long term."Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency, saying the state was experiencing its fourth straight year of drought, with climate change creating conditions that have fuelled destructive wildfires. Speaking at a press conference, Ferguson said he had spoken with federal officials, including US President Donald Trump, to seek additional resources for the response. He added that Trump understood "how dire the situation is."Ferguson further noted, "There are just so many Washingtonians who have literally lost everything in a very, very short period of time." He went on to add, "Just in a matter of hours, their lives changed in deeply dramatic and fundamental ways. And so it's difficult to find words when folks have experienced a loss like that," CBS News reported.Pacific Northwest sees 'extraordinary wildfire season'David Upthegrove, chief of Washington's Department of Natural Resources, noted that the fire in Spokane was "one of 15 major fires burning throughout the state of Washington right now." He said that this is an extraordinary wildfire season

As many as 60,000 people in the Spokane area were evacuated in the wake of deadly wildfires in the eastern Washington state. At least 600 homes, businesses and other structures were reportedly destroyed, authorities said Sunday.The fires in and around Spokane, the state's second largest city, burned about 8.2 square miles (about 21 square kilometers) over the weekend and were among dozens of wildfires across the Western US that stretched the ability of federal, state and local agencies to fight them.A total of about 390 square miles (1,000 square kilometers) has burned across the state, and some of the fires, including those in the Spokane area, have not been contained, the Associated Press reported.Quick answers to key questions•5 QUESTIONSThe Spokane wildfires have affected the Spokane area in eastern Washington, leading to the evacuation of around 60,000 residents and the destruction of at least 600 structures.Evacuation orders were issued in Spokane due to rapidly spreading wildfires driven by strong winds and dry weather, posing life-threatening conditions to residents.The Spokane wildfires have caused significant damage to local infrastructure, leading to power outages for around 10,000 residents and the setup of emergency shelters for evacuees.Authorities in Spokane have established emergency shelters at the convention center and fairgrounds to assist evacuees and those with pets in need of refuge.Yes, residents should remain alert as conditions are still dangerous, and officials have emphasized that the area is not yet out of danger.Fire and law enforcement officials said there had been no reports of injuries or people unaccounted for — but they stressed it was early in the response effort.Officials also said that the evacuees in Spokane included patients at the U.S. Veterans Affairs hospital there.Video from the Spokane area showed buildings on fire, black smoke billowing up near neighborhoods, and the smoking ruins of homes, with only chimneys still standing.Several officials expressed concern that the area does not appear likely to get a break in the coming days from the weather, which is expected to remain dry.“We are not out of danger,” U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell said during a news conference with federal, state and local officials in Spokane. “The next couple of days will be challenging.”Investigators had yet to determine how the blazes started.Grassland in flames in parts of Idaho and OregonSpokane was hardly the only place struggling to contain fires.Crews using bulldozers and helicopters continued for a 10th day to fight a fire that has burned nearly 525 square miles (about 1,360 square kilometers) of grassland in western Idaho and eastern Oregon. The area is home to cattle ranches, and authorities said the fire is threatening more than 600 homes and 800 other structures.The weather in the area was expected to remain sunny — and dry — well into the week, with temperatures rising to more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) on Wednesday. Officials say the fire was caused by lightning.Red flag fire warningsThe National Weather Service issued warnings about the air quality in eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, western and central Idaho and western Montana. It issued red flag fire warnings for parts of Utah and Montana and western Nebraska, and extreme heat warnings for the southern parts of Arizona, California and Nevada and northern Montana.High winds make it hard to fight fires in Spokane areaWhile temperatures Sunday in Spokane were forecast to remain below 80 F (27 C), wind gusts from 35 mph (56 kph) to 45 mph (72 kph) had been expected by the afternoon, said Benjamin Cossel, public information officer for the federal response team from California called in Saturday night to deal with the fires.“We have weather working against us, and we have terrain working against us,” Cossel said.There were three fires in the Spokane area: the Old Trails Fire, the Fairview Fire and the Meadowview Fire. Washington

Wildfires in US' Spokane burn 600 structures, force evacuation of 60,000 people: ‘We are not out of danger’

Rapidly spreading wildfires destroy homes in Spokane, forcing evacuations: What we know

Rapidly spreading wildfires destroy homes in Spokane, forcing evacuations: What we know

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