Video: Spokane Valley homeowners survey fire damage

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SPOKANE, Wash. - The evacuation order for residents within the Valley View fire area in the Spokane Valley has been reduced to a Level 2, meaning residents with identification will be allowed into their homes. Residents must be ready to evacuate at a moments notice if need be.

Investigators with the Dept. of Natural Resources said they a backyard fire pit is responsible for the fire that destroyed 13 homes in the Dishman Hills area.

The fire rekindled when 40 to 50 mile per hour winds blew in Thursday evening, allowing embers to escape. The fire grew explosively after that, until winds subsided Friday.

Fire officials have not released the name of the homeowner or the address of the house. It's also unclear whether the homeowner will face criminal charges.

The fire, at 1,006 acres, was 60 percent contained, with full containment expected Tuesday, fire spokesman Dale Warriner said. Although the weather was in the upper 90s, winds were light on Saturday.

There were 313 firefighters on the scene of the fire that was reported to be 60 percent contained Sunday. Crews from Western Washington were helping with relief efforts.

Although the weather was in the upper 90s, the winds had died down. No injuries were reported.

"We remain at high fire danger," said Loren Torgerson, Northeast Region Manager for DNR. "Campfires are only allowed in approved campgrounds. All other burning in a forest environment is closed."

Warriner said the Valley View fire was going to be an expensive one since some of the homes were worth more than $1 million.

"There are some pretty high-end homes there," he said. "I'm sure some of them are worth that, yeah."

Gov. Chris Gregoire and State Patrol Chief John Batiste flew over fires burning in Spokane, Chelan, Douglas, Ferry and Stevens counties on Friday night.

"It's heart wrenching to see these homes either literally gone or as we saw it last evening, many more at risk and knowing full well we are at the mercy of mother nature and what our weather is going to be like over the next couple of days," Gregoire said.

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Smoke from the Valley View Fire looms threateningly above homes in the Spokane Valley.

She said resources are strapped.

"We are stretched thin on resources in the entire west because much of what we have has been sent, both public and private, to California. Nonetheless, we have had offers of help from both Canada and Oregon," Gregoire said. "We think we've got enough both people and equipment for what we have on our hands right now, but we sure can't afford anything greater than we have right now."

On Friday, Gregoire declared a state of emergency for the entire state, freeing equipment, firefighters and funding to fight the blazes.

She said she was prepared to do whatever it takes to get the fires under control.

"The projections are our state forest lands are going to continue to dry out and that means increased risk of major fires throughout the state," Gregoire said Saturday. "We're still literally early in the fire season so whatever people do out there be cautious, be careful, recognize the risk because it really is drying up and we really are at risk for greater fires."

Help available

SCRAPS is sending all animals to the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, including domestic pets and larger animals. Citizens should go to the livestock gate at the fairgrounds. Fairgrounds staff will assist residents with getting those animals into stalls. The livestock gate located off of Broadway near Aztec Electric. If residents have cages, kennels, or crates for their animals, they should bring them.

HORSE ASSISTANCE - Horse owners can take their animals to safe keeping where space is being made available at the Spokane County Fairgrounds.

RED CROSS - Is offering temporary shelter to residents at University High School - 12420 E. 32nd.

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER - Has opened an information phone bank to provide residents with current information. The phone bank number is 477-2304.

If you would like to make donations visit www.spokanredcross.org, or, call (509) 326-3330.

Six other fires

There were six other fires burning in Eastern Washington on Sunday.

-- The Badger complex fire north of Wenatchee, two fires burning more than 13,000 acres in primarily grass, wheat and sagebrush.

"The fuels in the fire are very volatile, a lot of stuff, small fuels on the ground, so what happens is the fire moves very hot and a very quick fire," said Dave Cox, fire spokesperson.

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At least 13 homes and one building were destroyed by the Valley View Fire burning in the Spokane Valley.

Paul Norman, information officer for the Interagency Coordination Center in Portland, Ore., said the fire -- the Browns Canyon fire and the Badger Mountain fire -- was threatening 60 homes. Norman said an evacuation order had been issued for the residents of the homes.

Norman said the two fires had burned a total of 13,000 acres. The 4,200-acre Browns Canyon fire was 70 percent contained and the 8,800-acre Badger Mountain fire was 50 percent contained.

-- The Cayuse fire 14 miles east of Okanogan that had burned more than 1,700 acres in timber, grass and sagebrush. There were 482 firefighters, aided by two helicopters, battling the blaze on Sunday.

- The French Valley fire had burned more than 1,200 acres southeast of Omak.

- The Abaham Canyon fire had burned more than 275 acres north of Inchelium.

- The Doyle Complex fires burned more than 800 acres along the Kettle River. They were 20 percent contained and being fought by 292 firefighters.