Scale of devastation shocks US city's fire-seasoned residents

## Spokane Residents Stunned by Unprecedented Fire Devastation

**"Wiped Out" - BBC Reports from Spokane Neighborhood Devastated by Fires**

Spokane, Washington, a city accustomed to annual fire seasons, is reeling from a scale of devastation that has shocked even its most seasoned residents. Last Saturday, Chris Matthews, who, along with his family of five, had to evacuate their home last year due to a brushfire, found himself fleeing again. That prior evacuation lasted only a few hours, leading him to believe he'd be back home quickly when a menacing column of dark smoke approached. Instead, he returned to find only smoldering ruins.

"All of us thought we were going to be able to get back to our houses," Matthews recalled. "And we didn't think it'd be a situation where we were going to lose our homes or anything like that."

While smoke and fires are a common summer occurrence in the US Pacific Northwest, with residents awaiting autumn rains, and small evacuations not unexpected, the magnitude of this year's fires in Spokane is unprecedented. Kira Townsend, 39, recognized the immense danger when news spread that the fire had leaped over the river, a natural barrier that typically protects the city. "It's never jumped the river like that, and just roared up the hill that fast," she stated.

Nearly a quarter of the city's population – 65,000 people – have been forced to evacuate since the fires began. For those whose homes were spared, officials warn it could be weeks before it's safe to return to their neighborhoods. Miraculously, no deaths or major injuries have been reported.

Matthew Kincanon, 31, narrowly escaped with his life as the fire engulfed his Prosperity Lane neighborhood on Saturday night. Returning 12 hours later, he found nothing left. "As soon as I stepped out of the car I threw up," he recounted. "I felt sick. I couldn't control it. I just lost it. It hit me all at once."

As firefighters continue to battle three large fires around the city, which remain less than 40% contained, recovery efforts are already underway for those who have lost everything. City Councilman Zack Zappone, who grew up in the devastated Indian Trails neighborhood, told the BBC, "We have two fronts going at the same time. We're actively fighting the fire and trying to put that out. But we're also starting recovering for folks that have lost their homes." Describing the city's tensions from a city shelter, he added, "There just a lot of uncertainty and frustrations and difficultness."

An estimated 900 buildings are believed to have been destroyed.

Chrissy Goodrich's voice cracked with anger as she urged people to do everything possible to prevent further wildfires. She echoed official warnings that seemingly innocent activities, such as mowing a lawn, could ignite a blaze. "People have got to use their brains," she exclaimed. "Stop doing things that are gonna cause sparks. I can't believe someone was mowing." She added, "So many people have lost their houses, and people are just being so stupid." Goodrich and her 73-year-old father, Scott Hansen, still ride their mountain bikes through burned-out neighborhoods to get groceries to their home, which is within the mandatory evacuation zone. Like many Spokane residents, Hansen expressed surprise at how easily the fire breached the river. "The winds were too strong," he said. "It just blew over the river like it wasn't even there."

Anger has intensified following police charges against a local man who allegedly confessed to starting one of the fires. "I was so happy they got him. It's just not right," said lifelong resident Susan Crouch, 70, who previously lost her home to a wildfire. She added that this summer's fires "are the worst Spokane has ever had." Local media reported that the suspect, Aaron Farinacci, 37, had previously been questioned for arson and had a prior conviction for killing his own father in Arizona in 2010. Farinacci has not yet entered a plea, and a judge has ordered a mental competency evaluation. Investigators state he deliberately chose a dry, windy day, hoping to spark a large fire. More dry, windy days are in the forecast.

Matthews, who lost his house, is now urging his neighbors to prepare for the worst. In retrospect, he wishes he had a generator to power a sprinkler system around his property after the electricity failed. "For future reference, and for everyone else – take it seriously. Don't assume past historical times are what's going to happen in the future as well." His wife, Melissa Matthews, expressed a sense of "closure" upon learning that the blaze that destroyed their home may have been intentionally set by a man now accused of arson. "It brought a little bit of closure," she said, acknowledging, "That sounds weird to say." Chris added, "Knowing that a person did this, as opposed to it being a natural thing that happened, it just does feel a little bit comforting for some reason."

**Spokane Wildfire Arson Suspect Waited for Dry, Windy Day to Start Blaze, Police Say**

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