Live updates: Almost 65,000 people evacuated as Spokane County wildfires cause ‘heartbreaking’ devastation
Wildfires in Spokane County have forced the evacuation of nearly 65,000 people, with officials describing the situation as devastating. Former Washington Governor Jay Inslee emphasized that climate change is creating extreme conditions that make these fires nearly impossible to contain.
Why it matters
The event highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires and the ongoing political debate regarding climate change mitigation.
Link Copied! Climate change causing forests to become "tinderboxes," former Washington governor says By Elise Hammond • Source: CNN " data-fave-thumbnails="{"big": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/thumb-22863017-2785290-66-thumb.jpg?c=16x9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill" }, "small": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/thumb-22863017-2785290-66-thumb.jpg?c=16x9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill" } }" data-vr-video="false" data-show-html=" The Lead " data-byline-html=" By Jake Tapper , CNN " data-timestamp-html=" Updated 10:17 PM EDT, Mon August 3, 2026 " data-check-event-based-preview="" data-is-vertical-video-embed="false" data-network-id="" data-publish-date="2026-08-03T22:58:32.791Z" data-video-section="us" data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/03/us/video/theres-no-courage-that-can-stop-this-former-washington-gov-reacts-devastating-wildfires-the-lead-jake-tapper" data-branding-key="" data-video-slug="theres-no-courage-that-can-stop-this-former-washington-gov-reacts-devastating-wildfires-the-lead-jake-tapper" data-first-publish-slug="theres-no-courage-that-can-stop-this-former-washington-gov-reacts-devastating-wildfires-the-lead-jake-tapper" data-video-tags="the lead,jake tapper" data-breakpoints='{"video-resource--media-extra-large": 660}' data-display-video-cover="true" data-details=""> Video Ad Feedback 'There's no courage that can stop this.' Former Washington Gov. reacts to devastating wildfires 0:59 • Source: CNN 'There's no courage that can stop this.' Former Washington Gov. reacts to devastating wildfires 0:59 Urgent action is needed to stop climate change, said former Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, which is amplifying the destructiveness of wildfires like those ripping through his state right now.
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