By Kathy L McFarland
We have be surrounded by forest fires for the last month. Most were started by lightning, but sadly, at least one was started by an arsonist. All of the fires in my homeland are devastating. They have taken lives, both human and farm animals and beloved pets! They have destroyed billions dollars worth of homes and caused thousands of people to leave their homes to burn, and escape with their lives and little else. It has been a nightmare that no one could have imagined getting out of control so badly before these cataclysmic events unfolded in August 2026.
The most severely hit was my hometown in Spokane, Washington. Three major wildfires started distinctly in the three separate areas in the quiet neighborhoods in Spokane. Thousands of acres were destroyed with over 600 homes lost. Thankfully, all victims were able to evacuate before fire overtook their lives. We are sadly, however, learning of a death of an evacuated patient from the hospital because of the stress of the event.
The fires have been 100% contained at this time. The catastrophic blazes scorched more than 10,200 total acres, displaced over 65,000 residents, and caused damages estimated to exceed $1 billion. The fires initially ignited under critical weather conditions when a Red Flag Warning and a rare “particularly dangerous situation” flag were issued for the region. Fueled by extreme winds and dry conditions, the flames rapidly spread directly into residential and urban-interface neighborhoods.
We have been assisting our families, friends, and neighbors with the little bits we can. We have also had difficulty breathing in the dense smoke that has settled in our areas, and quite frankly, every time we hear thunder, was hold our breaths! This has NOT been a very good month!
If you desire to help the fire victims in Spokane, contact your local Red Cross office and they will give you ideas of how you can help and what is most needed.
Our lives are beginning to return to normal, and Becker Bible Ministries is online once again! I’ve missed you all!
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