Devastating wildfires burned more than 5,300 acres in Spokane County, destroyed hundreds of homes and forced at least 60,000 people to evacuate.
Devastating wildfires burned more than 5,300 acres in Spokane County, destroyed hundreds of homes and forced as many as 65,000 people to evacuate.
Gov. Bob Ferguson was there on Sunday to see the impact as he requests both short- and long-term federal help.
Katie Sullivan, of Spokane, told KOMO News she's grateful her parents and pets are safe, but it was a difficult Saturday afternoon and night trying to evacuate.
A Sunday morning drive northwest of downtown Spokane revealed the Spokane Complex Fire had ravaged countless homes in her parents' neighborhood. Their family home of 15 years was one of just a few still standing on the block.
"We are one of the lucky ones. There was fire retardant dropped on top of the house and the cars," Sullivan explained.
Less than a day earlier, she helped her parents evacuate as the flames crept closer, and she said they were temporarily stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Gov. Bob Ferguson declares statewide emergency as Spokane-area wildfires spread
"There was a moment of fear I think I've never felt before in my life where a cloud of smoke comes and blocks the sun and you can hear things exploding (and) catching fire," Sullivan explained. "There (was) nowhere to go. We did get out: families, pets. All things that are precious and important."
Gov. Bob Ferguson at a press conference said he talked with President Donald Trump and he's working to get federal assistance approved for the state as roughly 900 crews and the National Guard are battling the fast-moving fires that have destroyed about 640 structures.
he wildfires in Spokane have burned 700 structures, many of those being homes. Officials warn that number is expected to grow.
Authorities said at a Monday news conference that satellite images of 1,100 additional areas are being taken to determine the extent of commercial and residential damage and loss.
The Spokane County Sheriff's Office said Monday it is still trying to locate 14 people who needed help during the fires.
Authorities also said Monday that satellite images of 1,100 additional areas are being taken to determine the extent of commercial and residential damage and loss.
"We know how important those resources are for individuals, for businesses, for communities," Gov. Ferguson said. "There are just so many Washingtonians who have literally lost everything."
About 5,000 homes were evacuated as firefighters work to contain the fires, and authorities have opened an evacuation shelter at the Spokane Convention Center.
There are ways to help the tens of thousands of people impacted by the fires. Here's where to donate money and supplies to help the thousands of Spokane wildfire evacuees.
