Spokane wildfires displace thousands, but crews make progress containing flames
asserted
crews → displace → flames
Favourable weather has helped, but firefighters in Washington state are bracing for hotter, drier conditions
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firefighters → help → conditions
When Anita Stokes was ordered to evacuate her home in Spokane, Wash., last Saturday due to encroaching wildfires, she took whatever she could.
uncertain
she → order → wildfires
"We grabbed the cats, and I tried to pack some clothes and toiletries and things," she said.
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she → grab → clothes
"I was able to grab our wedding album, so I'm really happy about that."
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I → grab → that
Stokes was able to return to her home on Tuesday — only to find nothing left.
"
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Stokes → return → nothing
Our house is just ashes now, but I don't think it's sunk in yet.
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it → think → ?
Now, we're kind of trying to figure out what we do next."
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we → try → what
Arson suspect arrested as Washington state battles devastating wildfires
Destructive wildfires prompt evacuations in Washington state
For the time being, Stokes and her husband have parked their trailer at an evacuation site across town where they're staying with their cats.
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they → arrest → cats
"Unfortunately, we lost one in the fire, but we still have three.
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we → lose → three
'They lost everything'
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They → lose → everything
About 65,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in Washington state since the Autumn Lane, Fairview and Old Trails fires sparked within hours of each other on Saturday.
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fires → evacuate → Saturday
Fuelled by strong wind, the fast-moving flames have destroyed more than 700 structures — mostly homes around Spokane, according to officials.
uncertain
flames → fuel → officials
That number will likely change once crews are able to gain access to devastated neighbourhoods.
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crews → change → neighbourhoods
A 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson in the Old Trails fire, which has been the most destructive of the three.
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which → arrest → three
"This is a magnitude, a level, that no one has experienced," said Matthew Vinci, the fire chief for Spokane County Fire District 9.
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Vinci → experience → District
Vinci, who's been part of the fire service for 30 years, says these fires have hit close to home, with some of his own neighbours losing their houses.
"
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some → say → houses
It's tough to see.
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It → see → ?
Those are your neighbours, those are your friends … they lost everything.
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they → lose → everything
Crews make progress on containment
Some 1,300 firefighters from across the United States are working around the clock to keep the fires in check.
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firefighters → make → check
That number is expected to grow by the end of the week
Favourable weather conditions, including calmer wind and increased visibility into Wednesday, helped crews make progress.
"The fires did not grow, and the control lines have been put in around all three fires, and we actually have containment," said Tom Stokesberry, with California Interagency Incident Management Team 7.
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Stokesberry → expect → Team
But, he says, they're keeping a close watch on the forecast.
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they → say → forecast
"Friday, Saturday, Sunday, we're going to definitely have some hotter temperatures, some lower relative humidity, and the wind's going to increase," said Stokesberry.
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Stokesberry → go → temperatures
He said it's too soon, however, to determine how long it could take to get the situation fully under control.
uncertain
situation → say → control
"If I had a crystal ball, I could tell you," he said.
uncertain
he → have → you
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