The Spokane region’s wildfire emergency has become one of the state’s worst on record, with a fast-moving Eastern Washington blaze destroying hundreds of structures and driving tens of thousands of people from their homes. Veteran fire officials said the destruction is also intensifying concerns about a federal strategy that emphasizes aggressive suppression, which they fear could expose more crews to danger as severe fires grow more common.
What happened?
After jumping the Spokane River, the fire surged into developed areas, destroying more than 600 structures and forcing about 60,000 residents to evacuate, Stateline reported.
Tom Clemo, the incident commander, called it “probably the largest, most destructive fire in Washington’s history.”
The blaze erupted during a western fire season that was already marked by unusually dangerous conditions…