This wildfire season is shaping up to be one of the worst that Washington has ever seen.Three wildfires in Spokane County are still spreading rapidly as of Monday morning, and hundreds of people have already lost their homes and livelihoods.

Dave Upthegrove with the Department of Natural Resources confirmed on Monday that at least 700 homes have been destroyed, and more than 65,000 people have been evacuated. More evacuations are underway today as the fires progress with 0% containment.

About 900 firefighters are helping fight the fires in Spokane. DNR officials say they are from dozens of WA cities, more than a dozen states, and even Australia. Upthegrove said they are working around the clock to contain these fires.

Valley Professional Fire, which is based in the Auburn and Pacific area, and Central Pierce Fire are among the Western Washington crews sent over. Spokane is not the only area facing fire this week. “We have about 5,000 people responding to 15 major wildfires across Washington, and about a quarter million acres are currently burning,” Upthegrove said.

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Meet Bryan Scafede, age 41, ladder truck engineer with the Golder Ranch (AZ) Fire District (GRFD).

The post The Apparatus Chauffeur: Bryan Scafede, Golder Ranch (AZ) Fire District appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

Texas crash reports found Houston Fire Department apparatus operators at fault in two July collisions with Metro light rail trains.

The post Report: Houston (TX) Fire Trucks at Fault in Two Metro Rail Crashes appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

Hundreds of firefighters based at Madras High School battled the 60,000-acre Bench fire on the Warm Springs Reservation.

The post How Fire Crews Built a Temporary Wildfire Command Center in Just Two Days appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

Richmond will install transit signal priority for fire trucks and regional buses by next spring, but police cars and ambulances are excluded in the initial rollout because of funding.

The post Richmond (VA) Fire Trucks, Buses Will Soon Get Green Lights on Demand. Ambulances Won’t. appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.