SPOKANE VALLEY — Officials fighting the Spokane Valley wildfire that destroyed 13 homes said Saturday that it was human-caused.
A small recreational fire rekindled when 40 to 50 mph winds blew in Thursday evening, allowing embers to escape. The fire grew explosively until winds subsided Friday.
In a statement, fire supervisors said the responsible party has been identified, but the identity was being withheld pending completion of the investigation, at which time the state Department of Natural Resources will determine an appropriate course of action.
Fire spokesman Dale Warriner said the fire was not a campfire, but more like a backyard fire in a residential zone.
About 200 people remained evacuated from their homes Saturday. The fire, at 1,006 acres, was 60 percent contained.
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