Drone footage of fires that displaced 64,000 now documented
Drone footage of fires that displaced 64,000 livest, documented
Severe wildfires in Spokane, Washington, and the surrounding area have burned 10,000 acres and destroyed more than 900 homes, according to BBC News, which published drone footage of the aftermath. More than 64,000 residents were evacuated as strong winds rapidly spread the flames through the region.
The fires became the highest firefighting priority in Washington during widespread drought and ongoing wildfires across the Pacific Northwest in early August, the broadcaster reported. Spokane is Washington’s second-largest city, and the evacuations extended across the city and its neighboring communities.
No serious injuries or deaths were reported in Spokane, BBC News said.
Damage and evacuation totals climbed through the event’s first week. Earlier Associated Press reporting counted about 850 buildings destroyed and roughly 67,000 people evacuated by Aug 5, with crews having established containment lines around the fire perimeters after a cooler stretch. Officials said one of the three fires had been deliberately set, and a man was arrested and charged with arson in connection with one of the blazes.
MSI previously reported that the three Spokane-area wildfires had destroyed hundreds of homes and forced more than 60,000 residents to evacuate within days of igniting, as covered in Spokane-area wildfires destroy hundreds of homes, force 60,000 to evacuate. The drone footage and the updated toll reported this week — more than 900 homes destroyed and over 64,000 residents evacuated — document the aftermath of that same fire complex.