A wildfire tearing up Beacon Hill in Spokane forced residents to flee this afternoon, as crews scrambled to corral flames spreading fast in dangerous conditions. Fire officials issued Level 3 go now evacuation orders just after 1 p.m., warning people in the threatened area to leave immediately. The blaze broke out near East Upriver Drive, across the river from Felts Field.
What we know about the Spokane fire
The fire started shortly after noon and grew with alarming speed, jumping from about 1 acre to 10 acres in roughly half an hour, according to a state Department of Natural Resources spokesman. It is burning on the mountain biking trails of Beacon Hill, and officials are urging the public to stay away so crews can work. The response is large, described as a three alarm fire drawing departments from across the region, with a helicopter scooping water from the Spokane River to drop on the flames.
Who needs to evacuate
The Level 3 evacuation covers the area bounded by Columbia Drive on the north, Upriver Drive on the south, Northwood on the east and Thierman on the west. Level 3 means the danger is immediate and residents should go now rather than stop to gather belongings. Spokane County Emergency Management has posted an interactive map so people can check whether their address falls inside the zone.
POWER SHUTOFF ALERT: Avista will cut power to about 1,800 customers in Spokane’s Indian Trail neighborhood around 1 p.m. Tuesday due to extreme fire weather conditions and a red flag warning. https://t.co/I6E2PkSCcJ…