Fire danger continues in the Pacific Northwest Saturday as flame-fueling winds reached their strongest point in days on Friday, challenging fire crews battling to keep destructive blazes from spreading in Spokane, Washington, and across the region, with at least three fire-related deaths reported.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson on Friday announced a public health emergency declared by the US Department of Health and Human Services in response to the devastating wildfires in the state.
A complex of three fires near Spokane in the eastern portion of the state has scorched more than 10,000 acres of land and destroyed hundreds of homes and structures since igniting last Saturday. At one point, the fires forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate — some have since returned to find treasured memories turned to ashes…