Firefighters have gained a significant advantage against wildfires surrounding Spokane, Washington, after cooler temperatures allowed for the establishment of containment lines. However, officials warn that hotter, drier, and breezier conditions are expected later this week, posing a continued risk.
The fires, which began last weekend, have led to the evacuation of approximately 67,000 people and resulted in the destruction of about 850 buildings. Damage assessment crews are still working to determine the exact number of homes lost or damaged. No fatalities have been reported.
One of the fires, the Old Trails Fire, is believed to have been deliberately set. A suspect, 37-year-old Aaron F. Farinacci of Spokane, has been arrested and charged with arson. Court documents indicate a resident reported seeing him in the area where the fire started. Farinacci has denied starting the blaze, though authorities noted prior contact with him during two fire investigations last year.
The other two fires, identified as the Autumn Lane and Fairview fires, were also started by individuals, though investigators have not characterized these ignitions as deliberate. These fires started independently of the Old Trails Fire and remain under investigation.
While some residents have been permitted to return to their homes, the number was not immediately specified. Many others are in shelters, hotels, or with friends and family, uncertain about when they might be able to return, or if their homes still stand. Power and internet outages continue to affect some areas, complicating communication and information gathering for displaced residents.
Medical facilities and their patients were also impacted. The Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center evacuated 27 patients to local hospitals and temporary shelters when fires approached. While the medical center itself was not damaged, several staff members lost their homes.
Officials are monitoring 16 uncontained wildfires across Washington state, burning over 672 square miles and requiring the efforts of more than 7,000 fire personnel. State officials described the current season as potentially one of the worst in state history.
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell reported that Washington state has been assured by federal officials, including the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture, that maintaining firefighting resources in the Northwest remains a priority.