Wildfires raze neighbourhoods in US

Wildfires have ravaged neighborhoods in Spokane, Washington, reducing hundreds of homes and structures to cinders and forcing thousands of residents to evacuate over the weekend. Firefighters are battling three separate blazes that erupted in and around the city, with officials reporting the fires were still zero percent contained late Sunday. The National Weather Service had warned of "extremely critical fire weather conditions" due to strong winds and extreme dryness in the area. Videos from Sunday showed extensive destruction, with many homes burned to their foundations while nearby houses remained untouched. "Just driving around looking at the homes, it’s just one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve ever seen in my life," said Spokane resident Geoff Beadles, who evacuated with his fiancée and dogs. Mayor Lisa Brown stated that "hundreds of homes and structures have been lost" and the potential for casualties is still being assessed. While more favorable weather with lighter winds was forecast for Monday, temperatures were expected to rise later in the week. Air quality in the city was predicted to be "very unhealthy" due to accumulating smoke. Sheriff John Nowels reported no deaths or injuries so far, but cautioned that this could change as investigations proceed on active fire scenes. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency, noting that the state is enduring its fourth consecutive year of drought, which climate change is making more conducive to destructive wildfires. He has spoken with federal officials, including President Donald Trump, about securing resources to combat the disaster. Fire officials also warned that unauthorized drone incursions into restricted airspace were grounding firefighting aircraft.

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Just driving around looking at the homes, it’s just one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve ever seen in my life.