Spokane Wildfire Damages Over 600 Structures

A wildfire located northwest of downtown Spokane, Washington, has caused significant destruction, damaging more than 600 structures as officials work to measure the extent of the damage. As of Sunday, the fire spans 5,390 acres, according to Benjamin Cossel from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Officials are still assessing the complete impact of the disaster.

Authorities have confirmed that over 600 structures have been affected; however, they are still determining the types of these structures, whether they were homes, businesses, or schools. The fires, collectively named the Spokane Area Fires, comprise three separate incidents: the Old Trails Fire, the Fairview Fire, and the Autumn Lane Fire.

The California Interagency Incident Management Teams took control of the fire response after arriving Saturday night. This federal agency is adept at handling complex wildland-urban fires, where flames threaten residential and other developed areas, as explained during an interview with NBC’s Spokane affiliate, KHQ.

Officials have stated that evacuation areas will remain off-limits until they confirm a safe return for residents. Verified social media images showed a local sports complex with smoke visible in the background, eventually consumed by the flames.

This is a developing story. Further updates will be provided.