Spokane-area wildfires gain containment as heat threat looms

Firefighters around Spokane have begun containing three wildfires as cooler conditions allowed containment lines to be established, but a heat front and drier air are forecast later this week. About 67,000 residents have been evacuated and roughly 850 structures damaged or destroyed since last weekend, with evacuation zones staying in place to prevent danger. The Old Trails Fire is linked to arson and a 37-year-old suspect has been arrested; Autumn Lane and Fairview started independently. Washington now has 16 uncontained fires across more than 672 square miles, with about 7,000 firefighters on scene, prompting warnings that this could be one of the worst fire seasons in state history. A separate Calaveras County blaze in California prompted charges against a 65-year-old man for reckless equipment use.