A fast-moving wildfire in eastern Washington has forced the evacuation of approximately 1,500 residents, destroyed at least 15 homes, and led investigators to a tragic discovery as officials work to determine whether human remains found in the burn area belong to a resident who reportedly refused to evacuate.
The Upriver Fire, burning about a mile east of Spokane, rapidly spread through a residential neighborhood after igniting shortly after noon on Tuesday. Fueled by strong winds, the blaze raced up a hillside before changing direction and pushing directly into nearby communities, prompting emergency evacuations and a large-scale firefighting response.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office announced that its forensic team discovered what appeared to be human remains inside one of the homes destroyed by the wildfire. Authorities began investigating after a family member requested a welfare check for a resident who could not be reached and was believed to have stayed behind despite evacuation orders.
Officials are currently working to confirm whether the remains are human and, if so, determine the identity of the deceased and the cause of death.
Despite the widespread destruction, authorities have not reported any injuries related to the fire.
According to the U.S. Forest Service’s InciWeb wildfire tracking system, the Upriver Fire had burned 222 acres by late Wednesday and was 10% contained. Firefighters from Washington and neighboring Idaho continued battling the blaze from both the ground and the air.
Many residents were forced to flee with little warning as emergency crews went door-to-door alerting homeowners to the approaching flames. Some evacuees left behind important belongings, including medications and personal documents. Law enforcement officers later escorted residents back into affected areas briefly to retrieve essential items before returning them to safety.
Fire officials said the blaze spread with alarming speed. Spokane Valley Fire Department Battalion Chief John Leavell recalled seeing a large column of smoke while driving near Interstate 90 and immediately recognizing the seriousness of the situation.
“As I approached it, I thought this is going to be a big event,” Leavell said, describing the fire as appearing like “waves of fire” moving rapidly uphill.
The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation.
Firefighting efforts received support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which authorized Fire Management Assistance Grant funding to help cover suppression costs. FEMA officials warned that the fire posed a significant threat to homes, businesses, schools, power infrastructure, parks, and wildlife habitats.
Utility company Avista also shut off power in parts of the affected area to protect firefighters working near electrical infrastructure. Some outages remained in place on Wednesday.
Weather conditions offered some relief as winds weakened and temperatures dropped compared to earlier in the week, helping firefighters gain a measure of control over the blaze.
The wildfire comes amid an increasingly active fire season across the United States. More than 32,000 wildfires have burned over 3,900 square miles nationwide so far this year, significantly exceeding the 10-year average. Fire experts continue to warn of elevated wildfire risks in parts of California, the Southwest, the Great Basin, and the Rocky Mountain region in the weeks ahead.