Wind-whipped flames near Spokane, Washington, prompted mass evacuations on Tuesday as a wildfire pushed into a populated part of the region.
By Tuesday evening, NBC News reported that more than 11,000 residents were under evacuation orders, and officials said the fire had already claimed some structures.
What happened?
Reported shortly after noon on Tuesday, the Upriver Fire northeast of Spokane had expanded to about 250 acres by the evening.
Officials said the threat was particularly serious because the fire was moving near a heavily populated area.
According to NBC News, Matthew Vinci, chief of Spokane County Fire District 9, said evacuation zones included about 2,340 primary and secondary structures, affecting roughly 11,750 residents. He said no injuries had been reported, but confirmed the fire had already caused damage…