Wildfires near Spokane have destroyed at least 600 structures and forced 60,000 evacuations.
Why it matters: The fires have become a major regional disaster, with immediate risks to public safety and mounting insurance losses. The scale also tests wildfire preparedness across Spokane and eastern Washington.
- At least 600 structures were destroyed and about 60,000 people were evacuated, AP reported Sunday.
- The fires burned about 8.2 square miles in and around Spokane over the weekend, with several still not contained.
- The blaze began Saturday as strong winds and high temperatures pushed flames across northwest Spokane and over the Spokane River.
- Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency on Saturday as wildfire conditions worsened across the state.
Wildfires in eastern Washington, centered on the Spokane area, forced about 60,000 people to evacuate and destroyed at least 600 structures, according to AP reporting based on Sunday updates from authorities. AP’s latest report said the fires had burned about 8.2 square miles, or about 21 square kilometers, over the weekend.
The initial blow-up came Saturday, Aug. 1, when a fast-moving wildfire driven by strong winds and high temperatures swept across northwest Spokane and jumped the Spokane River, prompting mass evacuations. Earlier AP reporting said Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency that day as unusually high temperatures and high winds intensified wildfire conditions.
Authorities said evacuees included patients from the U.S. Veterans Affairs hospital. By Sunday morning, about 400 people were staying at Spokane’s main convention center shelter.
AP said no injuries or missing persons had been reported so far, though officials said the situation was still developing. The report also described the Spokane-area fires as one of dozens across the Western U.S. stretching the capacity of federal, state and local firefighting agencies.
Washington State Department of Natural Resources spokesperson Courtney James urged residents of Spokane to heed evacuation orders and stay alert to changing conditions. U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell said, "We are not out of danger" and warned, "The next couple of days will be challenging."
By the numbers
- 600 - At least that many structures were destroyed, per AP’s Sunday update.
- 60,000 - Approximate number of people forced to evacuate.
- 8.2 square miles - Area burned in and around Spokane over the weekend.
Yes, but: The 600-structure damage count is still an estimate and may change as officials update the incident.
What's next: Officials are expected to keep updating evacuation and damage counts as the fires remain active and several blazes are still not contained.