Firefighters are battling massive wildfires sweeping through the northwestern US city of Spokane, Washington, after hundreds of homes and other structures were destroyed and thousands of residents were forced to flee.
Three separate fires broke out in and around Spokane over the weekend, fuelled by strong winds, extreme dryness and prolonged drought conditions. Fire officials said late Sunday that the blazes remained 0% contained, raising fears of further destruction.
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown said emergency crews were still assessing the scale of the devastation.
“Hundreds of homes and structures have been lost. We are still assessing the potential for lives to be lost,” she told a press briefing.
She added: “To the people who are suffering right now in our region from either loss or uncertainty… our hearts go out to you. We are here for you for the long term.”
Authorities have issued the highest evacuation order, “Go Now,” for large parts of northern Spokane, forcing thousands of people to leave their homes as flames spread rapidly across the city.
The National Weather Service had earlier warned of “extremely critical fire weather conditions”, citing powerful winds and exceptionally dry vegetation that created ideal conditions for fast-moving wildfires.
Videos from affected neighbourhoods showed entire streets reduced to ashes, with only brick chimneys and house foundations left standing, while some nearby properties escaped significant damage.
Resident Geoff Beadles, who fled with his fiancée and two dogs, described the destruction as devastating.
“Just driving around looking at the homes—it’s just one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said.
Although officials said no deaths or injuries had been confirmed, Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels warned that casualty figures could change as investigators gain access to active fire zones.
“Because of the scale of this and what it takes to do those kinds of investigations in an active fire scene, that could change,” he said.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency, saying the state was experiencing its fourth consecutive year of drought, with climate change creating conditions that favour increasingly destructive wildfires.
The governor said he had spoken with federal officials, including President Donald Trump, to secure additional emergency resources, adding that the president understood “how dire the situation is.”
Officials also warned members of the public against flying drones near wildfire zones, saying unauthorised aircraft had forced firefighting helicopters and planes to suspend operations, hampering emergency response efforts.
The head of Washington’s Department of Natural Resources, David Upthegrove, described the situation as one of the state’s worst wildfire seasons.
“This is an extraordinary wildfire season in the Pacific Northwest. It’s not a normal season,” he said.
He noted that 15 major wildfires were burning across Washington State, stretching firefighting resources to their limits.
The largest blaze, known as the Old Trails Fire, crossed the Spokane River on Saturday and spread into the city, accelerating evacuations.
Resident Tena Risley said she grabbed her dog and a few belongings after spotting flames behind nearby trees but became trapped in heavy traffic as evacuation routes filled with fleeing residents.
“There were probably hundreds and hundreds of cars,” she said.
By yesterday, the three fires had burned approximately 5,390 acres (2,181 hectares), while emergency shelters were opened at the Spokane Convention Centre for displaced residents.
Forecasters expect lighter winds in the short term, but rising temperatures later this week and worsening smoke are likely to create very unhealthy air quality, posing additional health risks for residents.
