Fourth Spokane wildfire prompts brief evacuation order
A new fire west of Spokane triggered a short-lived evacuation notice as firefighters worked to contain the blaze amid ongoing dry, windy conditions.
A fourth wildfire ignited Wednesday afternoon near the intersection of Long Lake Road and Sparrow Lane west of Spokane, prompting emergency responders to issue an evacuation order for residents within a one-mile radius, fire officials said. The order was later reduced to a precautionary advisory, urging people to be ready to leave if conditions worsened.
Assistant Fire Chief Nathan Jeffries of Spokane County Fire District 5 confirmed the fire, named the Charles fire, started at about 1:51 p.m. and was initially about six acres in size. Incident commander Tom Clemo said crews moved quickly to contain the flames, noting the need for rapid action given the hot, dry, windy weather.
Firefighters employed a Black Hawk helicopter to draw water from the Spokane River and a Quest Kodiak aircraft to spot drop locations, while ground crews used water streams to suppress the blaze. Residents gathered at a nearby boat launch to watch the suppression efforts.
The new fire adds to three existing wildfires that have already burned hundreds of structures in the Spokane area. Although no injuries or fatalities have been reported, officials warned that the region remains vulnerable as drought conditions persist for a fourth consecutive year and winds are expected to increase in the coming days.