FIREFIGHTERS GET A HANDLE ON SPOKANE WILDFIRES AS TENS OF THOUSANDS REMAIN EVACUATED

Firefighters have begun to control the three wildfires that have engulfed northwest Spokane, Washington, after the cooler weather of early August allowed them to establish containment lines around each blaze.

According to the Associated Press, officials reported on Wednesday that containment lines had been built at the perimeters of all three fires and that crews were now concentrating on reinforcing those lines amid expected temperatures in the upper 90s with lower humidity. The fires have already destroyed roughly 850 buildings and forced the evacuation of about 67,000 residents since they erupted last weekend. One of the fires was set deliberately by a man who has been arrested and charged with arson, and no deaths have yet been reported. Damage‑assessment teams are still working to determine the full number of houses lost or damaged.

The wildfires illustrate the growing threat to communities in Washington state as weather patterns shift toward hotter, drier conditions, putting large populations at risk during the wildfire season.

• All three Spokane fires are now contained by perimeter lines but crews are reinforcing them.
• Roughly 850 buildings destroyed and 67,000 people evacuated as of August 5.
• One blaze was deliberately set; the arson suspect has been arrested.

Read the original source for full detail available at Associated Press src