Tragedy unfolding quickly in Spokane, Washington area.
National Weather Service has declared a “Particularly Dangerous Situation.”
Follow Daniel Swain to get the most informed analysis.
Spokane Spokesman-Review (paywall):
The Old Trails wildfire in northwest Spokane destroyed 640 structures Saturday, according to Cody Rohrbach, Spokane County Fire District 3 fire chief.
Many of the homes were inside the city limits of Spokane, according to a 6 a.m. fire briefing as officials began assessing damage.
There are three larger and fast-moving fires in and around the city, with the biggest threat coming from the Old Trails Fire. That fire started on Saturday afternoon local time and had burned over 3,500 acres by early Sunday morning, according to the Watch Duty app. Swaths of Spokane are under Level 3 evacuation orders, which read: “Leave NOW! This may be your only notice.”
Late Saturday night, the Washington National Guard was mobilized to assist local first responders. “The Washington National Guard is making 30 members available tonight to Spokane authorities for any emerging needs,” it said in a Facebook post.Late Saturday night, the Washington National Guard was mobilized to assist local first responders. “The Washington National Guard is making 30 members available tonight to Spokane authorities for any emerging needs,” it said in a Facebook post.