Major progress made in Gray Fire, 75% contained

MEDICAL LAKE, Wash. — Major progress has been made on the Gray Fire this week as 500 personnel continue to fight the flames.

The fire is now about 75% contained and the fire has not seen any major growth in the past few days.

Both directions of Interstate 90 in Spokane County have been reopened, as the cleanup from the ongoing Gray Fire continues.

In Medical Lake and Elk, the Gray Fire has now burned more than 10,000 acres and is 10% contained.

In response to the crisis, Washington State mobilized additional firefighters and resources.

One person was killed in the fire and more than 185 buildings were destroyed. A second person died in the area burned by the Oregon Road Fire in the north part of Spokane County, according to the Spokesman-Review.

The Gray Fire started on Friday around 12:30 p.m. and has destroyed homes, crops, and highways. The flames traveled quickly due to the high wind gusts. Level two and three evacuation orders are in effect for a large part of the area.

Many families in the Medical Lake/Silver Lake areas had to evacuate their homes. Desirea Goddard of DG Studio LLC in the Spokane Valley says she had to house some of her family members.

“I housed grandparents and their pet, parents, youngest sister and their dog, my sister and spouse, their kids and their animals,” Goddard said.

She told us that quite frankly, it still hasn’t sunk in yet how devastating the wildfires have been.

“I’m like there is no way that our entire city is gone. How is that even possible?” Goddard said.

She said of now, her parents’ home seems to be OK, but she knows a lot of other people weren’t so lucky.

“But the whole side of the Bible Camp is gone. There is nothing left over there,” Goddard said.

“And everything else across the street from my parents’ house is gone,” she said.

But despite the devastation, she says her salon and other small businesses in the area plan to help out those impacted.

“But if you look at anything that is posted, it’s everybody that it’s all hands on deck. What can I do to help? Who needs what? Come to my house. Even people who aren’t part of the Medical Lake community are opening up their homes. I have beds,” Goddard said.

Additional Spokane County fire crews and aircraft have been called in under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan to contain the flames. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Here are the most up-to-date fire and evacuation perimeter maps provided by Spokane County Emergency Management and Spokane Fire District #3.

VENMO handle for donations: MLdonation-GRAYFIRE.

“This fire is a reminder that the State of Washington is in the middle of a dangerous wildfire season, and I will continue to work with federal agencies and state, local, and Tribal governments to make sure wildland fire crews have what they need to fight fires this season and communities impacted by wildfires have what they need to recover,” said U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell. “My thoughts are with the Medical Lake community and all communities in Spokane County as they face this dangerous and devastating fire.”

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