A plane drops fire retardant on the north side of Beacon Hill on Sunday in Spokane. The fast moving wildfire is threatening structures as it moves in a northeasterly direction. (Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review, via AP)

A plane drops fire retardant on the north side of Beacon Hill on Sunday in Spokane. The fast moving wildfire is threatening structures as it moves in a northeasterly direction. (Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review, via AP)

Eastern Washington fires destroy homes, force evacuations in Spokane region

One fire jumped the Spokane River and threatened a small community on the Spokane Indian Reservation.

By Nicholas K. Geranios

The Associated Press

SPOKANE — A series of wildfires burning in the Spokane region have destroyed at least 16 homes and continued to grow Monday.

The fires started Sunday afternoon amid high winds and temperatures in the 90s.

One fire was near Davenport in Lincoln County, just west of Spokane.

It had scorched more than nine square miles by Monday morning and destroyed at least six homes, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said 11 structures had been destroyed, a figure that included homes, garages and outbuildings.

The fire jumped the Spokane River and threatened the small community of Wellpinit on the Spokane Indian Reservation.

Residents were told to evacuate after the town lost power.

Another wildfire, south of Spokane near the town of Spangle, destroyed at least 10 homes and numerous other structures Sunday, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Firefighters were aided by local farmers in building fire lines Sunday night, the State Patrol said.

“Multiple aircraft will be over the fire today assisting firefighters on the ground,” the State Patrol said.

The fire grew to more than six square miles Monday morning, and some residents of the rural area were ordered to evacuate immediately.

No injuries were reported, the State Patrol said.

About 200 firefighters were battling that blaze in timber, brush and grass.

Three fires blazing

A third fire was burning on the northeast side of Spokane. That fire had scorched 250 acres by Sunday evening and officials said some homes were likely destroyed.

The state’s biggest wildfire was near Kahlotus in Franklin County. It had burned more than 34 square miles Monday and was still growing.

The cause of that fire is under investigation.

The fire, raging in the dry brush of the Columbia River Basin, was threatening homes and crops, but had not burned any homes, the State Patrol said.

Another fire was burning north of the town of Northport, near the Canadian border. It was less than one square mile, but was threatening homes and power lines.

In the aftermath of a fire started by a downed power line that spread about six miles northeast of Spangle, firefighters sent a back up burn to get rid of fuels on the ground on Sunday. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review, via AP)

In the aftermath of a fire started by a downed power line that spread about six miles northeast of Spangle, firefighters sent a back up burn to get rid of fuels on the ground on Sunday. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review, via AP)

In the aftermath of a fire that started from a downed power line, JJ Anderson uses a rake to put out hot spots on the property of his brother PJ Anderson, located northeast of Spangle on Sunday. His brother’s home was spared, but others were not so lucky. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review, via AP)

In the aftermath of a fire that started from a downed power line, JJ Anderson uses a rake to put out hot spots on the property of his brother PJ Anderson, located northeast of Spangle on Sunday. His brother’s home was spared, but others were not so lucky. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review, via AP)

More in News

Special Olympian Deni Isett, center, holds a ceremonial torch with Clallam County Sheriff Brian King, right, accompanied by Lt. Jim Thompson of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Police on a leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run on the Olympic Discovery Trail at Port Angeles City Pier. Tuesday’s segment of the run, conducted mostly by area law enforcement agencies, was organized to support Special Olympics Washington and was to culminate with a community celebration at 7 Cedars Casino in Blyn. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Carrying the torch

Special Olympian Deni Isett, center, holds a ceremonial torch with Clallam County… Continue reading

Hopefuls for Olympic Medical Center board debate

Talk focuses on funds, partnership

An encapsulated engineered coupler used to repair a January leak. The leak occurred along a similar welded joint near to the current leak. (City of Port Townsend)
Port Townsend considers emergency repair for pipeline

Temporary fix needs longer-term solution, officials say

Traffic to be stopped for new bridge girders

Work crews for the state Department of Transportation will unload… Continue reading

The Peninsula Crisis Response Team responded with two armored vehicles on Tuesday when a 37-year-old Sequim man barricaded himself in a residence in the 200 block of Village Lane in Sequim. (Clallam County Sheriff’s Office)
Man barricaded with rifle arrested

Suspect had fired shots in direction of deputies, sheriff says

An interior view of the 12-passenger, all-electric hydrofoil ferry before it made a demonstration run on Port Townsend Bay on Saturday. Standing in the aisle is David Tyler, the co-founder and managing director of Artemis Technologies, the designer and builder of the carbon fiber boat. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Demonstration provides glimpse of potential for ferry service

Battery-powered hydrofoil could open water travel

Electronic edition of newspaper set for Thursday holiday

Peninsula Daily News will have an electronic edition only… Continue reading

Juliet Shidler, 6, tries on a flower-adorned headband she made with her mother, Rachel Shidler of Port Angeles, during Saturday’s Summertide celebration in Webster’s Woods sculpture park at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center. The event, which marks the beginning of the summer season, featured food, music, crafts and other activities for youths and adults. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Summertide festival

Juliet Shidler, 6, tries on a flower-adorned headband she made with her… Continue reading

Law enforcement agencies to participate in Torch Run

Clallam County law enforcement agencies will participate in the… Continue reading

Crews contain wildland fire near Fisher Cove Road

Crews from Clallam County Fire District 2 quickly contained… Continue reading

Crescent School senior Audrey Gales, right, looks at the homemade regalia worn by fellow senior Hayden Horn on Saturday. Gales had a handmade Native American cap ready for her graduation. Seventeen Crescent students graduated during traditional ceremonies in the school gym. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Crescent graduation

Crescent School senior Audrey Gales, right, looks at the homemade regalia worn… Continue reading

Pertussis cases see 25-fold increase statewide in 2024

The state Department of Health reported an increase in pertussis… Continue reading