Wildfires in Spokane, Washington, continue to spread, causing destruction and forcing evacuations.
As of 12 p.m. ET, four fires in the area set 10,575 acres ablaze, according to USA TODAY's data. Around 65,000 people were ordered to evacuate their homes because of the fires, which have destroyed or damaged an estimated 600 to 1,100 structures. Many have lost their homes, and whole neighborhoods have been demolished.
The fires come as the state faces "drought conditions, unusually high temperatures and high winds," all exacerbating the wildfires, a news release from Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson's website said. On Saturday, Aug. 1, Ferguson declared a state of emergency.
Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, was arrested and charged with first-degree arson related
to the Old Trails Fire, three miles west of Spokane. The fire has consumed 3,621 acres and is 0% contained.
See map of Spokane, Washington, wildfires
How big are the fires?
The following fires are located near Spokane:
- Autumn Lane fire- 5,868 acres, 0% contained
- Old Trails fire- 3,621 acres, 0% contained
- Fairview fire- 1,056 acres, 0% contained
A smaller fire, the Market fire, has also ignited near the Fairview fire. It has set 30 acres ablaze and is 0% contained.
On Sunday, Aug. 2, 16 large fires had spread across the state, Washington's Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove said in a post on X.
"Fire conditions are extreme, and we still have a long way to go this fire season," he said in another post.
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, Michael Loria, James Powel; USA TODAY
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers space phenomena, scientific studies and natural disasters. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Spokane, Washington, fires set thousands of acres ablaze. See map
