Authorities in Spokane, Washington, have discovered possible human remains in a home destroyed by the Upriver wildfire, which has burned 250 acres and forced thousands to evacuate. The fire, which began Tuesday night, has destroyed about a dozen homes. The remains were found in the home of a resident who had refused to evacuate, according to the Spokane County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies visited the house Tuesday after a nearby home was fully engulfed in flames. They knocked, announced themselves, and advised anyone inside to leave immediately. With no response, they found the front door unlocked and entered, repeating the evacuation warning, but received no reply. Soon after, they were ordered to evacuate the area as the fast-moving fire approached. A family member later contacted authorities for a welfare check, stating the resident had refused to evacuate and could not be contacted.
The medical examiner's office is working to confirm the person's identity and determine the cause and manner of death. Officials have described the fire as wind-driven, which Fire Chief Brian Mather called "very, very dangerous." The active fire was expected to last a couple of days, according to Mather. In a press conference, officials emphasized the urgent need for evacuations, urging residents to stay out of the area to avoid hindering firefighting efforts.