Spokane wildfires destroy hundreds of homes, force mass evacuations

Fast-moving wildfires destroyed hundreds of homes in Spokane, Washington, over the weekend, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. Three separate fires broke out in and around the city starting Saturday and continued burning overnight into Sunday. The blazes ignited amid what forecasters called extremely critical fire conditions, driven by strong winds and severe drought.

How many homes have the Spokane wildfires destroyed?

Officials say hundreds of homes and structures have burned in the Spokane wildfires, though a full count is still underway. Video from affected neighborhoods showed rows of houses reduced to ash, with only brick fireplaces and foundations left standing. Some nearby homes escaped almost entirely unscathed.

Spokane resident Geoff Beadles described the scene after evacuating with his fiancee and two dogs. "Just driving around looking at the homes, it's just one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever seen in my life," he told AFP.

Mayor Lisa Brown confirmed the scale of the damage at a Sunday afternoon press briefing. "Hundreds of homes and structures have been lost. We are still assessing the potential for lives to be lost," she said. She added that the city stands with residents facing loss or uncertainty "for the long term."

Has anyone been killed or injured in the Spokane wildfires?

Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said no deaths or injuries had been confirmed as of Sunday. He cautioned that the situation could change once investigators are able to move through the active fire scene. Weather conditions had eased somewhat by Sunday, with winds calming, but the fires remained at zero percent containment.

What caused the wildfires in Spokane?

Washington is enduring its fourth consecutive year of drought, with Governor Bob Ferguson pointing to climate change as a factor behind the destructive fire conditions. He declared a state of emergency and said he had briefed federal officials, including President Donald Trump, who he said understood the severity of the situation.

David Upthegrove, head of the state's Department of Natural Resources, said the Spokane fires are part of a broader crisis. "This is an extraordinary wildfire season in the Pacific Northwest. It's not a normal season," he said, noting that 15 major fires are currently burning across Washington state. He added that overlapping fires across the West are straining firefighting resources.

How did the fires spread into the city of Spokane?

The largest of the three blazes, the Old Trails fire, jumped the Spokane River on Saturday afternoon and pushed directly into the city. Resident Tena Risley said she spotted flames behind trees near her home and grabbed her dog and a few belongings before fleeing. She described gridlocked roads as fast-moving fires blocked routes out of the city, saying she saw "probably hundreds and hundreds of cars."

Authorities issued the highest-level "Go Now" evacuation order for large sections of northern Spokane, affecting thousands of residents within city limits. As of Sunday morning, the three fires had burned a combined 5,390 acres, according to CNN. Emergency officials opened a fire evacuation shelter at the Spokane Convention Center for displaced residents.