Thousands Flee Wildfires in US City of Spokane
Officials said hundreds of homes and structures were lost as three fires remained at 0% containment and no injuries had been reported.
- The Old Trails fire jumped the Spokane River on Saturday afternoon, forcing thousands to evacuate as flames crossed into the city proper in eastern Washington.
- David Upthegrove, head of Washington's Department of Natural Resources, warned the Spokane fire is "one of 15 major fires burning throughout the state of Washington right now." The National Weather Service had previously warned of "extremely critical fire weather conditions" due to strong winds and exceptional dryness.
- Video footage from Sunday showed scores of homes in the Balboa neighborhood burned to the ground, with only brick fireplaces and foundations remaining. Resident Tena Risley described a chaotic evacuation where "there were probably hundreds and hundreds of cars" fleeing the fast-moving flames.
- Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency, while Spokane Fire Department Mayor Lisa Brown stated "hundreds of homes and structures have been lost" and "we are still assessing the potential for lives to be lost." President Donald Trump acknowledged understanding "how dire the situation is."
- Sheriff John Nowels reported no deaths or injuries yet, though investigations remain ongoing given the scale of destruction. State officials attributed the catastrophic fire season to Washington's fourth consecutive year of drought, creating conditions conducive to destructive wildfires.
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Urban firestorm devastates Spokane as dense smoke envelops the Northwest » Yale Climate Connections
Climate change, combined with development in high-risk areas, is making urban wildfires more likely. The post Urban firestorm devastates Spokane as dense smoke envelops the Northwest appeared first on Yale Climate Connections.
Firefighters concentrated their efforts on Monday to contain the large forest fires that hit the city of Spokane in Washington State in the northwest of the United States. According to authorities, hundreds of properties were destroyed, while thousands of residents had to leave their homes after three fires spread across the urban area.
Several hundred buildings were destroyed by flames in a large forest fire in the United States. The city of Spokane was particularly affected, no injuries were claimed by the authorities
Dwellings and vehicles reduced to ashes, evacuated thousands of people (ANSA)
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