Wildfires in Washington State Destroy Hundreds of Homes Near Spokane as Nearly 65,000 Residents Flee

by Snejana Farberov

A trio of massive wildfires that ignited in Spokane County, WA, over the weekend destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses and triggered the mass evacuation of nearly 65,000 people.

The Autumn Lane Fire, Fairview Fire, and Old Trails Fire together have consumed roughly 8,000 acres of land and were 0% contained as of Monday morning.

So far, no deaths or injuries have been reported in connection with the blazes. The cause of the fires is under investigation.

According to the latest reports, the fires have destroyed more than 700 homes in the impacted area, prompting Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove to characterize the unfolding situation as a "catastrophe."

Earlier updates from county authorities stated that over 600 structures were damaged, including an unknown number of homes, buildings, and businesses.

"The final damage toll in Spokane is unknown. What is already clear is that hundreds of families have lost their homes, thousands have been displaced, and an entire community is entering the most difficult days of its disaster," says Brad Kieserman, vice president of Red Cross Disaster Cycle Services Operations and Logistics.

Harrowing photos and videos from Spokane County circulating online show homes engulfed in flames, and neighborhoods wreathed in smoke and strewed with rubble. In some images, only chimneys stand towering over ashen fields of debris.

A Virgin Mary statue remains untouched in front of a burned out residential home in the Balboa neighborhood of Spokane, Washington — A Virgin Mary statue remains untouched in front of a burned-out home in the Balboa neighborhood of Spokane, WA. (AFP via Getty Images)

A burned pickup truck sits in the driveway of a burned residential home with an untouched home in the background in the Balboa neighborhood of Spokane, Washington — A scorched pickup truck sits in the driveway of a burned home with an untouched home in the background in Spokane County. (AFP via Getty Images)

A line of burned out residential homes and a car smolder in the Balboa neighborhood of Spokane, Washington — A line of burned-out residential homes and a car smolder in Spokane. (AFP via Getty Images)

Evacuees described fleeing their homes with whatever possessions they could carry. One resident told CNN that he lost the home he had lived in since 1980, but called recently moving his father into a nursing home a "blessing" considering the scale of destruction.

Authorities in Spokane set up a shelter at the city's main convention center, which on Sunday housed some 400 evacuees.

Overall, 15 major wildfires are raging across Washington state, covering approximately 250,000 acres, prompting Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, to declare a state of emergency. Some 5,000 firefighters and National Guardsmen from across the U.S. are helping battle the flames.

A partially melted street sign sits in front of a burned out residential home in the Balboa neighborhood of Spokane, Washington — A trio of wildfires in Spokane County destroyed roughly 700 homes and caused some 65,000 residents to evacuate over the weekend. (AFP via Getty Images)

Three members of the Spokane Fire Department sit on a curb in front of burned out residential homes in the Balboa neighborhood of Spokane, Washington — Three members of the Spokane Fire Department sit on a curb in front of burned-out homes in the Balboa neighborhood of Spokane on Sunday. (AFP via Getty Images)

Lower temperature and light winds on Monday offered fire crews a brief window of opportunity to tackle the infernos before the mercury climbs back into the 90s by Wednesday with no rain in the forecast.

The Pacific Northwest is currently dealing with hot and dry weather conditions resulting in grassland fires in Western Idaho, Eastern Oregon, and Central Utah that are also threatening hundreds of homes and other structures.

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