04.08.2026 00:20
The disaster left behind by the massive forest fires that have been raging for days in the Spokane area of Washington state in the US has been revealed in newly recorded drone footage. The flames, which turned residential areas into a veritable hell under the influence of strong winds, reduced entire neighborhoods to ashes and left thousands of people homeless.
Massive forest fires that started on Friday in Spokane, Washington, USA, and spread to residential areas due to winds reaching 70 kilometers per hour, have turned into a major disaster. New drone footage recorded from the region has revealed the extent of the destruction in the neighborhoods hit by the flames.
NEIGHBORHOODS WIPED OFF THE MAP
In the aerial footage, standalone neighborhoods where thousands of people once lived were seen reduced to heaps of ashes. In the area where houses completely collapsed and vehicles and trees burned, only the concrete foundations of buildings remained. As the wind carried the fire to the opposite bank of the Spokane River, the disaster quickly spread to residential areas in the city center.
STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED ACROSS THE STATE
The Washington State Governor's Office declared a state of emergency across the state as the fires grew out of control and called on National Guard units to duty. While an area exceeding 250,000 acres (approximately 1 million decares) across the state has been consumed by flames, more than 5,000 firefighting personnel continue their interventions at 15 separate fire points.
HEAVY TOLL OF THE DISASTER: 700 HOMES DESTROYED
It has been confirmed that at least 700 homes and structures have been completely burned and destroyed so far in the "Spokane Complex" fires affecting the Spokane region. In the area where a "Leave Your Home Immediately" warning was issued as the flames rapidly approached, approximately 65,000 citizens were evacuated to safe areas and established shelters. Electricity was cut for more than 60,000 subscribers in the city for security reasons.
"WE WILL BE SHOCKED WHEN WE WAKE UP IN THE MORNING"
The Mayor of Spokane stated that one of the largest natural disasters in the city's history is occurring, while officials expressed that firefighting efforts are facing great difficulties due to changing wind directions and extreme heat. Security officials in the region emphasized that the full extent of the fire has not yet been determined and that the toll could become even heavier as daylight breaks. Search operations for missing persons and debris removal efforts continue in the burned areas.