Daijiworld Media Network – Spokane
Spokane, Aug 5: Firefighters in Washington continued efforts to contain three major wildfires in Spokane and Stevens counties on Tuesday, strengthening containment lines and tackling hotspots, but officials said the blazes remained 0% contained.
The three fires — the Old Trails Fire, Fairview Fire and Autumn Lane Fire — have collectively burned more than 8,000 acres after being fuelled by strong winds over the weekend. Officials said hundreds of structures have been destroyed, with estimates indicating more than 700 homes and other buildings have been damaged or lost.
Incident management operations chief Joe Tieso said crews made progress overnight, with no significant growth reported in two of the fires. Firefighters also contained a spot fire near the Autumn Lane Fire and built containment lines around the blaze, which had spread across nearly 5,603 acres.
"Although firefighters continue making progress, all three fires remain active with areas of significant heat and interior burning," officials said in an update.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday approved an emergency aid request from Washington to support firefighting efforts, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said. Governor Bob Ferguson is also seeking a Major Disaster Declaration to provide assistance to residents affected by the fires.
The Old Trails Fire, one of the three major blazes, is being investigated as a suspected arson case. Aaron Farinacci, 37, was charged with first-degree arson and appeared virtually before a judge from the Spokane County Jail on Tuesday. His bond was continued at $1 million, and he is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.
Among those affected by the fires are residents who lost their homes, including Karen Faggioli, whose newly completed five-bedroom house in Spokane was destroyed along with her daughter's home nearby.
"It’s devastating. You don’t realise until you walk through," Faggioli said, describing the destruction in her neighbourhood.
Meanwhile, residents evacuated from threatened areas remained at Red Cross shelters as firefighters worked to control the flames. Jocelyn Beaumont, who evacuated from her retirement community, said the sky was filled with thick brown smoke when she left.
Although a change in wind direction reduced the immediate threat to her home, she remained concerned after reports that the fire had reached a nearby fish hatchery.
Authorities continue to urge residents to remain alert as firefighting operations continue across the affected regions.