Washington state fires destroy hundreds of structures and force Spokane-area residents to evacuate

A series of wildfires in eastern Washington state forced the evacuation of around 60,000 people in the Spokane area, destroying at least 600 homes, businesses, and other structures. These fires, which have burned approximately 12 square miles, currently remain uncontained, according to Courtney James, a spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

The weather forecast for Monday indicated cooler temperatures and light winds following strong wind gusts on Sunday, with no rain expected. This comes amid a larger issue of over 390 square miles of wildfires across the state. No reports of injuries or missing persons have been filed, though officials emphasized that this is early in the response effort.

Evacuees included patients from the U.S. Veterans Affairs hospital in Spokane. Video from the area captured buildings on fire, smoke billowing into the sky, and the ruins of homes, with only chimneys remaining. Officials expressed concern over the lack of weather relief in the coming days, describing the situation as challenging.

The origin of the fires is yet to be determined, but two unauthorized drone operators have been cited for operating during the wildfires, with at least 26 drone incursions reported on Sunday. Firefighters have been battling a 525 square mile fire in western Idaho and eastern Oregon for a tenth day, threatening over 600 homes and 800 structures.

The fire was reportedly caused by lightning. A massive fire in central Utah nearly doubled in size over the weekend, burning more than 100 cattle and prompting mandatory evacuations in the southern part of Fillmore. Extreme heat and red flag fire warnings were issued across parts of the northwest, including Utah, Montana, and Arizona.

Spokane set up a shelter at its main convention center, with around 400 people currently residing there. Schools in Spokane County opened a free emergency drop-in camp for children, and court trials were postponed to the week of August 10. The western Idaho and eastern Oregon fires, known as the Big Grass Fire, are not the only ones causing widespread impact in the northwest.