Firefighters worked to contain huge blazes in the northwestern US city of Spokane early Monday after officials reported hundreds of structures had been reduced to cinders. Tens of thousands of people were ordered to evacuate their homes over the weekend as three separate fires broke out in and around the city in the east of Washington state. The National Weather Service (NWS) had warned of “extremely critical fire weather conditions” in the area due to strong winds and exceptional dryness.
Video of the aftermath on Sunday showed scores of homes burned to the ground, with only their brick fireplaces and foundations remaining, while other houses nearby escaped practically unscathed. “Just driving around looking at the homes — it’s just one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve ever seen in my life,” Spokane resident Geoff Beadles told AFP, after evacuating with his fiancee and two dogs. About 60,000 people within Spokane’s city limits have been evacuated under the authorities’ highest-level alert, “Go Now,” police chief Kevin Hall said Sunday.
Mayor Lisa Brown told a press briefing: “Hundreds of homes and structures have been lost. We are still assessing the potential for lives to be lost.” “To the people who are suffering right now in our region from either loss or uncertainty… our hearts go out to you. We are here for you for the long term,” she said.
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Fire officials said late Sunday that the blazes were still zero-percent contained. And while more favorable weather, with only light winds, was forecast for Monday, temperatures were expected to rise again later in the week. Smoke accumulating over the city would likely render air quality “very unhealthy” on Monday, the regional clear air agency said.
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