Wildfires Force 60,000 Evacuations in Spokane, Destroy 600 Structures
Quick Look
- Wildfires in eastern Washington state have forced the evacuation of 60,000 people in the Spokane area, including hospital patients, and destroyed at least 600 homes and businesses.
- The fires, part of dozens across the western US, have burned 21 sq km around Spokane, with no containment yet.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Wildfires in eastern Washington state have led to the evacuation of 60,000 people in the Spokane area and destroyed at least 600 structures. These fires are among dozens burning across the western US, straining emergency response capabilities.
Wildfires in eastern Washington state forced the evacuation of 60,000 people in the Spokane area while destroying at least 600 homes, businesses and other structures, authorities said on Sunday.
The fires in and around Spokane, the state’s second largest city, burned about 21 sq km (8.2 square miles) 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 1,000 sq km has burned across the state and some of the fires, including those in the Spokane area, have not been contained.
No one hurt or unaccounted for – so far
Fire officials and police 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 the evacuees in Spokane included patients at its US Veterans Affairs hospital.
Open Questions
- When will the Spokane fires be contained?
- What is the full extent of property damage?
- What is the cause of these specific fires?
