Spokane Fire Crews Ring 3 Blazes as 67,000 Evacuees Face Days of Heat

Q: What hidden dangers lurk beneath the scorched earth of Spokane that could reignite the devastating Autumn Lane Fire this weekend?

The main danger is hidden heat still burning underground: smoldering hot spots, buried root systems, and heat trapped deep in the burned soil that can reignite if this weekend brings hotter temperatures, lower humidity, and stronger winds. Fire officials in Spokane say the Autumn Lane Fire may look quieter on the surface, but crews are still digging into ash and turning over soil because roots and other organic material can keep burning unseen for long periods. Those pockets of heat can flare back to the surface, throw embers, and start new fires even after visible flames have died down. A small new fire that broke out inside the evacuation zone on Thursday, though quickly contained, underscored that risk. The coming weather is a major concern because the fire has not yet been fully tested by wind. Forecasts call for warmer, drier conditions and gustier winds, which could expose or feed those hidden hot spots and challenge containment lines around all three Spokane-area fires. There is another hazard in the burn scar as well: trees weakened by the fire may fall without warning, potentially blocking roads and threatening residents, motorists, and crews. That is why firefighters are still carrying out intensive mop-up work, reinforcing hand-built and dozer lines, and patrolling for flare-ups despite the apparent drop in visible flames.

3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 6

Containment lines now encircle all three Spokane-area fires, giving crews a chance to reinforce perimeters after cooler weather slowed the blazes.
About 67,000 people remain under evacuation orders because forecasters expect temperatures to rise into the upper 90sF with lower humidity and breezier conditions later this week.
Roughly 850 buildings have been destroyed since the fires erupted last weekend, though officials have reported no deaths and are still counting how many homes were lost or damaged.
Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, is due in court Thursday on arson charges tied to the Old Trails Fire; investigators said the other two fires were also human-caused but remain under investigation.
Washington still has 16 uncontained wildfires burning more than 672 square miles, with more than 7,000 personnel deployed as officials warn of one of the state's worst fire seasons.