US northwest wildfires force 65,000 to flee as hundreds of buildings burn in Spokane

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Wildfires raging around the northwestern US city of Spokane, Washington, have forced about 65,000 people from their homes and reduced hundreds of buildings to cinders, according to authorities. A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the largest of the blazes, officials said Monday.

Coverage comparison

Reporting on the fires, Al Jazeera and France 24 (English) both emphasized the scale of the evacuation and destruction. Al Jazeera's coverage highlighted the arson arrest, while France 24's reports focused on the devastation and the difficult conditions facing firefighters.

The two outlets agree on key figures: about 65,000 people have been displaced, the fires have burned a combined 8,026 acres (3,248 hectares), and between 700 and 1,110 structures have been destroyed. Both outlets also reported that no injuries have been confirmed so far. However, one France 24 article described three separate fires that had charred a total of 5,390 acres as of Sunday morning, a figure that appears to have been updated in later reporting to 8,026 acres.

Key claims

The fires broke out over the weekend in and around Spokane, a city of about 230,000 people near the Idaho border. Aerial assessments indicate that between 700 and 1,110 structures have been destroyed since the fires erupted, officials said.

Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels told reporters Monday that Aaron Farinacci, 37, was arrested in connection with the Old Trails fire and charged with first-degree arson. He is being held on a $1m bond after a witness allegedly saw him kneeling in grass where the fire is believed to have started. The arrest came as firefighters continued battling blazes that have scorched large areas around the city.

Authorities are attempting to contact 14 people they have been unable to reach by mobile phone, but Sheriff Nowels said they are not currently considered missing.

Mayor Lisa Brown told a press briefing Sunday afternoon: "Hundreds of homes and structures have been lost. We are still assessing the potential for lives to be lost." She added: "To the people who are suffering right now in our region from either loss or uncertainty... our hearts go out to you. We are here for you for the long term."

The National Weather Service had warned of "extremely critical fire weather conditions" in the area due to strong winds and exceptional dryness. Weather conditions improved on Sunday with winds dying down, but the fires were still listed at zero percent contained. Firefighters were making "significant gains" against two of the fires, according to one report, with cooler temperatures and higher humidity expected Monday and Tuesday.

Video of the fire aftermath showed scores of homes burned to the ground, with only brick fireplaces and foundations remaining, while other nearby houses escaped practically unscathed. "Just driving around looking at the homes -- it's just one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever seen in my life," Spokane resident Geoff Beadles told AFP, after evacuating with his fiancee and two dogs.

Perspectives

Local officials: Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels emphasized the scale of the evacuation, saying: "I think the estimate is potentially up to 65,000 people we had to move out of these areas, and if you think about what that entails, the fact that we were able to get people out of those areas within several hours in an active fire zone is pretty incredible." Mayor Lisa Brown expressed sympathy for affected residents and said authorities were assessing the situation.

State officials: Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, who declared a state of emergency, noted that the state is enduring a fourth consecutive year of drought as climate change creates conditions conducive to destructive wildfires. He told a press conference that he had spoken to federal officials, including President Donald Trump, about resources to respond to the disaster.

Scientists: Experts say human-caused climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires by driving higher temperatures, prolonged drought and drier vegetation. Daniel Swain, a climatologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, said eastern Washington had experienced one of its warmest periods on record, according to reports.