Hundreds of structures destroyed as wildfires sweep Spokane County, Washington
More than 130 responders from a national incident team joined local firefighters to combat three fast-moving wildfires in Spokane County, prompting evacuations and a state of emergency.
A multi-agency team of about 130 responders arrived Saturday night to assist Spokane County firefighters battling three rapidly spreading wildfires that have already destroyed hundreds of structures. The team, part of California Interagency Incident Management Team 7, was deployed after local resources were stretched thin.
"You’re dealing with different fuel types, the complexities of people trying to evacuate, and hazmat situations that come with the various houses," said Tom B. Stokesberry III, the team’s lead public information officer.
The Old Trails Fire, the largest of the three, had burned more than 2,000 acres by 8 p.m. Saturday and exceeded 3,000 acres by early Sunday, threatening up to 5,000 structures, according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources. The Fairview and Meadowview fires were estimated at roughly 979 and 500 acres respectively.
Strong winds of 20-30 mph with gusts over 40 mph on Saturday accelerated the blaze, though wind speeds eased to 5-15 mph on Sunday. Fire danger remains elevated, with a Level 1 of 3 threat rating, and dry fuels and low humidity could still drive fire spread. Warmer, drier conditions are forecast to return by midweek.
Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency and a burn ban, while a Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning was issued for central and eastern Washington. Evacuation orders, including a Level 3 order for the Old Trails area, forced thousands of residents to leave, and a shelter was opened at a local community college.
Residents reported rapid fire growth and police-directed evacuations. One homeowner said police simply told him to leave, prompting his family to seek refuge with relatives. Smoke from the fires, combined with regional blazes in British Columbia, is expected to degrade air quality through the middle of the week.
The incidents occur amid a national wildfire season that has seen nearly 30,000 fires and more than 2 million acres burned, double the ten-year average for this time of year.