AI Generated Image
Firefighters ride out Old Trails inferno in Spokane neighborhood: 'We make our stand here'
The Spokesman-Review • • nation
Key Points:
- On August 1, the Old Trails fire rapidly advanced through Spokane neighborhoods, prompting residents like Bob Loomis to evacuate as flames engulfed nearby homes amid gusting winds and chaotic conditions.
- Firefighters from Spokane Fire Department and Spokane County Fire District 8 faced unprecedented challenges, battling intense heat, exploding propane tanks, and lateral fire spread driven by 50+ mph winds over 17 hours to protect homes.
- Despite overwhelming fire conditions forcing strategic retreats, crews made a determined stand at Woodside Avenue, managing to save some homes, including Loomis's, through coordinated efforts and water spraying under extreme danger.
- Firefighters described the event as unlike anything in their careers, with conditions resembling a disaster zone, and expressed guilt over the homes lost but acknowledged their efforts likely prevented even greater destruction.
- The fire has profoundly impacted the community, altering residents' sense of security and leaving firefighters with lasting emotional effects as they grapple with the scale of loss and the challenge of moving forward.
