Spokane wildfires force tens of thousands to evacuate as homes burn

A series of wildfires near Spokane, Washington, erupted over the weekend, forcing more than 60,000 people to evacuate and destroying over 700 homes and buildings, officials said. The largest blaze, the Old Trails fire, consumed neighbourhoods including the home of resident Amy Mulligan and prompted an arrest on suspicion of arson.

Residents reported smelling smoke before receiving any alerts. Mulligan, preparing a birthday party the next day, noticed smoke in the distance and soon learned a nearby neighbourhood was being evacuated. She, her husband and two children fled by car, encountering heavy traffic while their nine-year-old became distressed and required breathing exercises during the escape.

Another evacuee, James Main, said he received no warning before seeing the fire and had roughly 30 minutes between first sighting and deciding to leave. He and his wife battled thick smoke while driving and later returned to find their home reduced to ash and rubble.

State wildfire trackers showed the fires continued to burn as of Tuesday afternoon. Authorities reported that three wildfires in the Spokane area have scorched more than 10,000 acres since they began over the weekend, with the Old Trails fire identified as the largest and linked to an arson suspect.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The wildfires prompted mass evacuations affecting over 60,000 residents and resulted in the destruction of more than 700 structures, including private homes. Officials identified the Old Trails fire as the largest incident and have arrested a suspect on suspicion of arson. Emergency reports and resident accounts describe rapid fire spread, limited advance warnings for some families, and ongoing wildfire activity monitored by state trackers.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• More than 60,000 people were ordered to evacuate from the Spokane area.
• Three wildfires burned over 10,000 acres with the Old Trails fire the largest.
• Authorities reported over 700 buildings destroyed and an arson suspect arrested in connection with the Old Trails fire.