Firefighters have made progress in containing the wildfires that have displaced tens of thousands of people around Spokane, Washington. Despite the progress, evacuation orders remain in place due to incoming weather and fire danger.

Wildfire Update

The fires, which were started by people, have destroyed about 850 buildings and forced the evacuation of around 67,000 people. No deaths have been reported, but many evacuees are still waiting to return to their homes.

Among those under evacuation orders are patients and staff from the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane. The medical center was not burned in the fire, but several staff members lost their homes.

Firefighting Efforts

Firefighters have established containment lines around the perimeters of all three fires affecting Spokane and are focused on reinforcing those lines. Temperatures are expected to climb, with less humidity, which could pose a challenge to the firefighting efforts.

The Washington State Auditor’s Office reported that one of its communications officers, Adam Wilson, and his family were among those displaced by the fires. They had moved into their Spokane home just over a month earlier and were still unpacking when they had to evacuate.

The fires are among dozens across the Western U.S. that have stretched the ability of federal, state, and local agencies to fight them. U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington said that senators had received a briefing from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and Wildland Fire Service Director Brian Fennessy, who assured them that keeping firefighting assets in the Northwest is a priority.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.