Washington state fires destroy hundreds of structures and force Spokane-area residents to evacuate

John Hanna, Associated Press John Hanna, Associated Press Lindsey Wasson, Associated Press Lindsey Wasson, Associated Press SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Light winds and lower temperatures were in the forecast Monday to help firefighters battle wildfires in eastern Washington state that destroyed at least 600 structures and forced the evacuation of 60,000 people in the Spokane area. The fires in and around Spokane, the state's second-largest city, burned about 12.5 square miles (about 32 square kilometers) by Monday morning and filled the sky with smoke and haze. They were 0% contained, Courtney James, a spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, said. No major injuries or deaths were reported by Monday, though authorities were checking for missing people, said Cpl. Mark Gregory, a spokesman for the Spokane County Sheriff's Office.

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