Spokane Wildfire: Emergency Evacuations Ordered As Blaze Spreads To 200 Acres

A fast-moving wildfire just north of Upriver Drive in Spokane, Washington, engulfed 200 acres, prompting officials to call for a level three evacuation in the area Tuesday. Multiple structures were threatened by the large fire and one home was reported destroyed. No injuries were reported, according to fire department officials.

Firefighters from all over the region are battling the fire that started around 4 p.m. EDT Tuesday and at least two air tankers are being used. Fire crew reached 6400 block of East Upriver Drive around 4.38 p.m. EDT, Melanie Rose, spokeswoman for the Spokane Valley Fire Department said.

“The fire just crested the hill and is burning several homes right now; it’s a three-alarm fire. There are a lot of resources going to the scene to try to get a handle on this,” Rose said, local daily Spokesman reported.

Immediate evacuations were ordered in west of Northwood Drive, south of Francis Avenue, east of Beacon Hill and north of Upriver Drive. The Red Cross has set up an evacuation shelter at Bowdish Middle School.

Spokane Valley fire crews on scene of a large, fast moving wildfire near 6400 E Upriver Drive with multiple homes threatened, Level 3 evacuations in place. 9+ fire departments on scene with more en route, helicopter & plane water drops, state mobilization resources requested. pic.twitter.com/5M68i7O5sJ
— Spokane Valley Firefighters Local 876 (@SpokaneValleyFF) July 18, 2018

Susanna Lavrov, a local resident, said, “I went outside and it was like,. ‘Oh my.’ It’s horrible,” adding “I could see the flames from my house.”

She grabbed her three kids and left the place immediately, however, she said she is worried about her four goats and chickens.

Ryland Carter, another resident of East Valley Springs Road, said “Forty minutes ago, it was screaming forward and they couldn’t stop it. It was in the trees. Some of the flames were several hundred feet high. And then the wind shifted.”

"I’m no firefighter, but it looks like they’re getting some of it contained,” he said. “How they stop it from taking these houses is pretty amazing.”

Rose said at least half a dozen structures might have been destroyed or even more.

Eric Keller, spokesman for the state Department of Natural Resources, said the cause of fire is yet to be determined. “It looks like the fire is moving rapidly uphill to the south and east and, we have downed power lines,” Keller said.

Spokane Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said 40 members of the department are at the scene and 11 companies are battling the fire at present.