Firefighters continue to fight 3 forest fires in the city of Spokane and its surroundings in the US state of Washington, after the flames destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced about 64,000 people to evacuate. The fires destroyed more than 8,000 acres, while surveys indicate that 400 additional buildings may have been damaged or destroyed.

Published on: 04/08/2026 - 03:23

Raging wildfires on the outskirts of Spokane, Washington state, destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced about 64,000 people to leave their homes, officials said Monday, on the third day of firefighting operations.

The three fires raging in and around the city are a top priority for fire brigades in the United States, at a time when the Pacific Northwest region is facing a drought and dozens of major fires that have been ongoing for weeks.

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Since it broke out on Saturday, the fire has destroyed more than 8,000 acres inside Spokane and its suburbs. The city's population, which is the second most populous in Washington state, is about 230,000 people.

Emergency Command Center spokesman Benjamin Cosell said that immediate evacuation orders included about 64,000 people as of Monday, after it was limited to 4,000 the previous day.

Kosil explained that the fire affected at least 700 buildings, most of them in residential areas, while infrared aerial surveys showed that about 400 additional buildings, including homes, may have been damaged or destroyed.

Authorities are still investigating the causes of the fires.

France 24/Reuters

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