Wildfires tore through the greater Spokane area Saturday, destroying at least 640 structures, burning more than 5,000 acres and displacing thousands of residents.
The National Weather Service issued a particularly dangerous situation warning Saturday for red-flag conditions in the region. Firefighters responded to three fires over the weekend: Old Trails Fire north of Airway Heights, Autumn Lane Fire near Five Mile Falls and the Fairview Fire near Mead. Thousands were evacuated as the flames jumped the Spokane river and tore through residential streets, destroying hundreds of homes. There are reports from the ground of entire neighborhoods being wiped out by the fast-moving fires.
Crews have been working through the night as all three fires remain at zero percent containment as of Sunday evening. Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown said at a news conference Sunday that the fires are “really the worst natural disaster our region has faced.”
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson visited the county and spoke with President Trump to request federal emergency assistance. Ferguson also declared a statewide emergency Saturday that prohibits most outdoor and agricultural burning. The National Guard has been deployed to assist with evacuations and traffic control.
Avista, the regional utility supplier, worked to restore power to thousands still in the dark, and officials began the long process of damage assessment amid hopes that calmer weather would finally allow crews to gain ground on the still-uncontained blazes.
For the latest evacuation information visit Spokane County Evacuation Address Lookup.
