I'm watching coverage of the devastating fires that broke out Saturday in Spokane, Washington, where my daughter lives, thinking that this is a living nightmare. My daughter's neighborhood is safe for now, but 65,000 other residents have been evacuated, 700-1,100 structures have been affected and there is still zero percent containment of the three fires.
They broke out Saturday and high winds whipped them through bone dry vegetation, across the Spokane River and into neighborhoods in northwest Spokane. (My daughter lives in the southeast.)
Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to ash, and the flames continue.
Residents reported that it took four, five hours to evacuate because of thousands of cars trying to get out at once.
Power was turned off to parts of the city over the weekend, forcing those residents to choose between opening their windows to lessen the stifling indoor heat while temperatures outside were around 90 or keep the windows closed because outside air was filled with ash and toxic particles. I think some power is still turned off.
Thousands of firefighters have been deployed from across the country and Canada. Fighting this monster is the number one fire priority in the nation because so many neighborhoods are in the fire's path rather than it only threatening open land. It's burned more than 8,000 acres as of Monday morning. Today on the news, a fire official said it's likely to continue burning for weeks.
Somehow, this Little Free Library survived while the woman above stands before the destroyed house that had been her grandmother's.
A small bright spot is that donations for the victims have flooded in. My daughter responded to a call for pet food, toiletries and clothing, but when she tried to drop them off at the Red Cross they turned her away because they were flooded with donations. She was able to leave them at another drop-off spot, but it too was overflowing.
I have plane reservations to visit her in less than two weeks, but I'm not sure if I'll go. The air quality across the city is dangerous and fires might still be burning. I'm also planning to stay at a rental because my daughter's bathroom is torn up for repairs, but I'd rather free up that rental for a displaced family.
Excellent summary and reporting. I would add, that as I watched this unfold via television coverage, I was reminded of the Eden and Palisades fires in Southern CA, how we all were stunned at views of entire neighborhoods burned to the ground. I was not wrong to be reminded of that fire because the guy who was in charge of the firefighting efforts for the Palisades fire has come to Spokane to head up the Spokane complex fires. I was pretty stunned when I ran across that 65,000 evacuees figure. Started thinking about how it's not just those people and where in the world would they go, but then most probably have jobs, and if they can't get to them, then the businesses will be affected too. Then think about postal deliveries, newspaper deliveries to the affected areas and how what can't be delivered gets handled. Lordy - this is big . . . and yes, it's not over yet and won't be for some time. Sigh . . .
ReplyDeleteYes, it is heartbreaking. I know a few quilters who lost their homes in the Palisades and Altadena fires. Their lives have drastically changed forever. It is a huge emotional shock that they are still trying to cope with. ♥️♥️♥️
ReplyDeleteI'm praying for all who are affected. Having gone through a few fires that caused us to evacuate, I know how frightening it is. We are fortunate in this country to have amazing firefighters who are experienced in fighting these devastating fires. I know they do everything possible to protect the people and dwellings in the path of the fire.
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