{
  "id": 103678,
  "title": "US northwest battles wildfires after Spokane neighbourhoods scorched",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/us-northwest-battles-wildfires-after-spokane-neighbourhoods-scorched",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-03T21:17:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2026/08/04/us-northwest-battles-wildfires-after-spokane-neighbourhoods-scorched"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A series of wildfires, exacerbated by drought, intense heat, and high winds, have ravaged the city of Spokane in Washington state, prompting the evacuation of 65,000 residents and the destruction of hundreds of buildings. Firefighters have managed to contain two of the three fires, which have burned 8,026 acres so far, according to InciWeb. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity on Monday and Tuesday have aided efforts to combat the flames, though a warming trend is expected mid-week. No casualties have been reported thus far. Sheriff John Nowels urged authorities to locate 14 unaccounted individuals, while Mayor Lisa Brown warned that recovery could take weeks, depending on the location of affected homes. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, who has been in contact with President Trump, declared a state of emergency and is awaiting federal assistance for search and rescue, debris removal, medical supplies, and emergency power. The Old Trails fire, the largest of the three, crossed the Spokane River into the city on Saturday and has forced numerous residents to flee in panic. Over 6,445 customers have lost power due to the fires.",
  "summary": "Wildfires fuelled by drought and intense heat forced the evacuation of 65,000 people and reduced hundreds of buildings to cinders.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "Wildfires in US' Spokane burn 600 structures, force evacuation of 60,000 people: ‘We are not out of danger’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/wildfires-in-us-spokane-burn-600-structures-force-evacuation-of-60",
        "published": "2026-08-03T01:50:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "Wildfires ravage neighborhoods in US northwest city of Spokane",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/wildfires-ravage-neighborhoods-in-us-northwest-city-of-spokane",
        "published": "2026-08-03T08:22:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Fast Company",
        "title": "Spokane wildfires: Map, smoke tracking tools, and latest update as 3 fires devastate eastern Washington",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/spokane-wildfires-map-smoke-tracking-tools-and-latest-update-as-3",
        "published": "2026-08-03T13:18:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Wildfires raze neighborhoods in northwest US city of Spokane",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/wildfires-raze-neighborhoods-in-northwest-us-city-of-spokane",
        "published": "2026-08-03T16:30:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Videos show devastating Spokane, Washington, wildfires that forced thousands to evacuate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/videos-show-devastating-spokane-washington-wildfires-that-forced",
        "published": "2026-08-03T23:16:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "US northwest wildfires force 65,000 to flee as hundreds of buildings burn in Spokane",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/us-northwest-wildfires-force-65-000-to-flee-as-hundreds-of-buildings",
        "published": "2026-08-04T00:40:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Phys.org",
        "title": "US Northwest battles wildfires after Spokane neighborhoods scorched",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/us-northwest-battles-wildfires-after-spokane-neighborhoods-scorched",
        "published": "2026-08-04T07:20:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NPR",
        "title": "Authorities arrest arson suspect in connection with wildfires in Spokane",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/authorities-arrest-arson-suspect-in-connection-with-wildfires-in",
        "published": "2026-08-04T10:56:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}