Washington State wildfires destroy over 700 buildings and force 64,000 to flee

Dozens of major wildfires have been burning across the drought-parched U.S. Pacific Northwest for weeks, degrading air quality across a wide region.

Aug 3 (Reuters) - Wildfires raging on the outskirts of Spokane, Washington, for a third day have destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes in and around the state’s second-most populous city, officials said on Monday.

SPOKANE, Washington (AP) — Some residents returned to devastated neighborhoods in eastern Washington state to find their homes leveled by wildfires that erupted across a parched landscape over the weekend, covering yards in charred debris. In some cases, only chimneys were left standing. The fires in and around Spokane

The Spokane-area fires have scorched more than 3,200 hectares since erupting on the northern fringe of the city, home to about 230,000 residents west of the Rocky Mountain foothills near the Idaho border

The Spokane-area fires have scorched more than 8,000 acres (3,237ha) since erupting on Aug 1.

Firefighters are battling a series of blazes that began this weekend in Washington state and are continuing to burn in and around Spokane, the state's second most populous city. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced and hundreds of buildings have been destroyed. Stephanie Sy reports.

The Spokane-area wildfires were completely uncontained, said Courtney James, a spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

Washington state fires destroy hundreds of buildings and force Spokane-area residents to evacuate  apnews.com

Washington state fires destroy hundreds of buildings and force Spokane-area residents to evacuate  Toronto Star

Washington state fires destroy hundreds of buildings and force Spokane-area residents to evacuate

Some residents returned to devastated neighborhoods in eastern Washington state to find their homes leveled by wildfires that erupted across a parched landscape over the weekend

Spokane wildfires expand, force 65,000 from their homes in Washington  USA Today

Hundreds of structures damaged as firefighters battle to contain 15 major wildfires amid extreme heat and drought Firefighters in Washington state are battling wildfires that have forced 60,000 people to flee and destroyed hundreds of buildings as drought and extreme heat fuel an “extraordinary” fire season in the Paci

Wildfires in eastern Washington state forced the evacuation of 60,000 people in the Spokane area while destroying at least 600 homes, businesses and other structures, authorities said Sunday.

Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown says nearly half of the city's neighborhoods have either been evacuated or are at risk as the fires remain uncontained.

Light winds and lower temperatures are in the forecast to help firefighters with wildfires in eastern Washington state that have forced the evacuation of 60,000 people in the Spokane area

Wildfires Destroy Hundreds of Homes in Washington State  WSJ