Thousands flee wildfires in US city of Spokane

A series of wildfires tore through the city of Spokane in Washington state, prompting officials to order the evacuation of thousands of residents as hundreds of structures were destroyed. The National Weather Service had warned of extremely critical fire weather conditions due to strong winds and dryness. Videos showed many homes turned to rubble, with only foundations and fireplaces remaining, while others were largely spared.

Residents, like Geoff Beadles, described the aftermath as heartbreaking. Mayor Lisa Brown stated that hundreds of homes and structures had been lost, and the situation was still being assessed for potential lives lost. Despite improving weather conditions, the fires remained uncontained. Spokane Sheriff John Nowels confirmed no deaths or injuries, but warned that the scale of the disaster could change that.

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency and sought resources from federal officials, including President Donald Trump. Washington's Department of Natural Resources head David Upthegrove noted that this was one of 15 major fires burning across the state, describing it as an extraordinary wildfire season in the Pacific Northwest.