SPOKANE, Wash. — Families displaced by the Upriver Fire began returning home, with many discovering their properties had survived, even as fire officials confirmed at least 15 homes in the area were destroyed.
Nancy Butz rushed across town Tuesday after receiving an emergency evacuation alert for the area where her 91-year-old mother lives alone. She arrived in time to help her mother and the family dog evacuate.
“It’s hard to think of losing something that that’s all you have,” Butz said.
When asked what to grab on the way out, Butz said the answer came quickly.
“I think it just reminds all of us of what is important. My brother, he said, ‘What do you want to take with you?’ as we were walking out the door, and I said ‘Just the dog and my mom.’ That’s it. That’s all there is,” she said.
After returning to find her mother’s home still standing, Butz expressed gratitude.
“We are so fortunate. We are so fortunate. We’re just thanking everybody,” she said.
Matthew and Karen Morrison also returned home the previous night to find their house had been spared. But seeing the destruction on their street left an impression.
“It was just heartbreaking what people lost. But it is a house, and all the people on that road got out safely,” Karen Morrison said.
Just down the street, other neighbors lined up in their cars, waiting for word on when they might be allowed back into their homes.
Fire officials have not yet announced a timeline for when all evacuation orders may be lifted. Conditions remain subject to change based on fire activity.
KXLY will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
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