Residents returning to fire-hit communities in Spokane County, Washington, found homes destroyed after three fast-moving wildfires forced about 60,000 people to evacuate. Hundreds of structures were destroyed or damaged, and officials said it would take time to assess the full toll. No serious fire-related injuries or deaths had been reported.
More than 600 structures had been damaged in the three fires, a toll that would put them among the most destructive in Washington’s history. Some residents returned to assess the damage and recover what belongings they could, while others waited to be allowed back into their neighbourhoods, CNN reported.
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Evacuees described leaving with little more than they could carry, and some stepped through hot rubble to retrieve possessions. One woman who lost her home of more than 21 years described the loss as “heartbreaking”, adding: “But we’re safe, so that’s all that matters.”
