At least 16 homes destroyed in Washington state wildfires

SPOKANE, Wash., Aug. 23 (UPI) -- At least 16 homes have been destroyed in a group of fires in eastern Washington state, fire authorities said Monday.

Known as the Spokane Complex Fire, the Hart Road Fire and the Deep North Fire, the blazes have collectively burned 12,000 acres or about 18 square miles and are completely out of control. At least 16 homes have been destroyed and hundreds have evacuated, but there have been non injuries, authorities said.

The Spokane Complex is made up of two smaller fires which have burned 3,750 acres in the Spokane area. At least 10 homes and several other buildings have been destroyed, Washington State Patrol said Sunday.

The Hart Road Fire has scorched 6,000 acres as it jumped the Spokane River and destroyed several homes. Evacuations are ongoing, authorities said.

The Deep North Fire has burned about 600 acres near the Canadian border as of Monday afternoon.

All three of the fires have benefited from high winds, dry conditions and record heat in the Pacific Northwest.