VIDEO: On October 16, 1991, a devastating firestorm ripped through Eastern Washington, leaving 114 homes burned, 35,000 acres of land smoldered and two people dead.
Now, 30 years later, the effect of Firestorm ’91 is still being felt in the Inland Northwest.
Saturday marked the 30th anniversary of the firestorm, where nearly 100 wind-driven wildfires decimated a large portion of Eastern Washington. At the time of the event, the Spokane area had gone 42 days without rain. Power lines knocked down by overwhelming winds sparked dozens of fires, leading to every firefighting resource in the Spokane area to be called into service.
For Spokane Valley Department Battalion Chief Ken Capaul and retired Spokane Fire Chief Bobby Williams, the memory is still clear as day 30 years later.