Wildfire in northwest Spokane destroys 640 structures

The Old Trails wildfire in northwest Spokane destroyed 640 structures Saturday, according to Cody Rohrbach, Spokane County Fire District 3 fire chief.

Many of the homes were inside the city limits of Spokane, according to a 6 a.m. fire briefing as officials began assessing damage.

There has been no confirmed reports of lives lost, “but based on radio traffic, it will be anticipated,” Rohrback said. The size of the fire is now 5,390 acres.

The fire started on the West Plains where strong winds blew it northeast into Riverside State Park. It then jumped the river, raced up the bluffs and began burning neighborhoods, including Indian Trails and Five Mile Prairie.

Mass evacuations remain in place with the Spokane Convention Center serving as the main shelter for families that had to flee their homes in chaotic scenes that unfolded in the neighborhoods of northwest Spokane.

Mayor Lisa Brown declared a state of emergency and winds gusted between 35 and 45 mph for hours. Gov. Bob Ferguson activated the National Guard. Ferguson is flying to Spokane on Sunday morning.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Hundreds of firefighters are in the area, including some 120 personnel from California Interagency Management Team 7, who arrived in Spokane last night and immediately began shadowing local crews on the fire lines, assisting into the morning.

Incident Commander Tom Clemo said it will likely be days before it’s know exactly how many homes were lost.

“Probably the largest, most destructive fire in Washington’s history occurred yesterday afternoon,” he said.

Clemo said the coordination from local fire department saved lives and property.

Some are set to work 30-40 hours straight, Rohrbach said.

“Yesterday’s day shift was last night’s night shift, and they’re again today’s day shift,” Rohrbach said. “We did that intentionally based on the imminent threat to life.”

Other fires that ignited Saturday also led to mass evacuations and destroyed homes.

A wildfire in the Suncrest area across the Spokane River in Stevens County was started by an ember.

Wind spread the fire rapidly up hill where it burned three homes along Meadowview, according to Stevens County Fire District No. 1.

Many more houses burned as fire resources ran short. The fire district noted that it was able to save many houses.

This story is developing