Wildfires Near Spokane Destroy 600 Structures and Prompt Mass Evacuations
Yesterday, fires in the Spokane, Washington area forced the evacuation of 60,000 residents and destroyed at least 600 structures after burning over the weekend.
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Wildfires in eastern Washington state forced the evacuation of 60,000 people in the Spokane area on Sunday while destroying at least 600 homes, businesses and other structures, authorities said. The fires in and around Spokane, the state’s second largest city, burned about 8.2 square miles, or roughly 21 square kilometers, over the weekend. They were among dozens of wildfires across the Western U.S. that stretched the ability of federal, state and local agencies to fight them, according to the Associated Press.
A total of about 390 square miles, equivalent to 1,000 square kilometers, has burned across Washington state. Some of the fires, including those in the Spokane area, have not been contained. Fire and law enforcement officials said there had been no reports of injuries or people unaccounted for, though they stressed it was early in the response effort. Officials also said the evacuees in Spokane included patients at its U.S. Veterans Affairs hospital.
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 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.
Spokane 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, or 32 degrees Celsius, by Wednesday. Officials say that fire was caused by lightning.
In central Utah, a massive blaze more than doubled in size over the weekend, jumping from 16 square miles to about 56 square miles by Sunday morning. More than 100 cattle have been killed, according to local law enforcement. Officials called the fire “catastrophic” as heavy winds helped flames jump containment lines overnight. The fire is moving north toward Fillmore, a town of about 2,600 people and the seat of Millard County. Mandatory evacuations were ordered Sunday evening for the southern portion of Fillmore.
Washington Governor said he talked to federal officials about the fires.
AP India