Washington Wildfires Force Mass Evacuations, Destroy Homes

Authorities have also arrested a suspect on suspicion of arson in connection with the Old Trails fire. That development has only deepened the sense of urgency around a firestorm that has spread fear through surrounding neighborhoods and forced more than 60,000 people to evacuate.

For another Spokane-area resident, Main, the escape felt just as abrupt and disorienting. He said he had no warning before realizing the fire was closing in. By his account, he had only about 30 minutes from first seeing the flames to understanding the situation had turned serious. He described a strange, frozen feeling as he prepared to leave, which he said felt like an anxiety attack.

Main and his wife got into their truck, but thick smoke made the drive out difficult. He said the streets were so dark with smoke that it was impossible to tell whether they were driving away from the fire or toward it. When he later returned on Sunday, he found that little remained of his house beyond ash, rubble, and charred tree trunks rising from smoldering ground.

That is now the reality for many families across the Spokane area. More than 700 homes and other buildings have been destroyed, including Mulligan’s. She said the loss goes beyond what insurance can cover, pointing to personal items that cannot be replaced, including a ring her grandmother received from her grandfather and later gave to her. For people who have already lost their homes, the weeks ahead will be about finding shelter, sorting through damage, and trying to rebuild. For everyone else in the region, the Spokane wildfires are a reminder of how quickly a familiar summer threat can become a life-changing emergency.