This is a photo collection curated by AP photo editors.
School students take shelter during mock drills amid India Pakistan tension, in Jammu, India, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)
Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Response Force and Civil Defence personnel participate in a mock security drill on the outskirts of Prayagraj, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India’s strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Response Force and Civil Defence personnel participate in a mock security drill on the outskirts of Prayagraj, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India’s strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
School students take shelter during mock drills amid India Pakistan tension, in Jammu, India, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)
School students take shelter during mock drills amid India Pakistan tension, in Jammu, India, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)
School students take shelter during mock drills amid India Pakistan tension, in Jammu, India, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)
Indian civil defense volunteers and police participate in a mock security drill at a school in Prayagraj, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India’s strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
National Disaster Response Force team members carry out a mock drill in a market to train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of attack, in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
People watch a security mock drill at a mall in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Two men watch a security mock drill at a mall in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Civil defense members carry out a mock drill at a metro station to train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of attack, in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Fire brigade workers and paramedics participate in a security mock drill at a mall in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Civil Defense Services, National Disaster Response Force NDRF and Mumbai Fire Brigade workers take part in a mock drill in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
Civil Defense Services, National Disaster Response Force NDRF and Mumbai Fire Brigade workers take part in a mock drill in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
Civil Defense Services, National Disaster Response Force NDRF and Mumbai Fire Brigade workers take part in a mock drill in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
National Cadet Corps members participate during a mock drill to train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of attack, in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
National Cadet Corps members participate during a mock drill to train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of attack, in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
School students react during a mock drill to train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of attack, in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Civil defense and railway police carry out a mock drill at Kachiguda railway station to train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of attack in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
National Cadet Corps members participate during a mock drill to train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of attack, in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Officals take part in a drill to train civilians in case of attack in Prayagraj, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Officials take part in a drill to train civilians in case of attack in Prayagraj, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
A firefighter participates in a drill to help train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of attack in Prayagraj, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
A blackout is seen during a mock drill to train civilians in case of attack in Prayagraj, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
A blackout is seen during a mock drill to train civilians in case of attack in Prayagraj, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Firefighters carry out a mock drill to train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of an attack, in the old quarters of New Delhi, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karma Bhutia)
Firefighters carry out a mock drill to train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of an attack, old quarters of New Delhi, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karma Bhutia)
School students participate in a mock drill trained by civil defence members to respond in case of attack in Guwahati, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
A civil defense official participates in a mock drill to train school students to respond in case of attack in Guwahati, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Civil defense members participate in a mock drill to train school students to respond in case of attack in Guwahati, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
School students participate in a mock drill trained by civil defence members to respond in case of attack in Guwahati, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
School students and teachers participate in a mock drill trained by civil defence members to respond in case of attack in Guwahati, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
School students participate in a mock drill trained by civil defence members to respond in case of attack in Guwahati, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
School students participate in a mock drill trained by civil defence members to respond in case of attack in Guwahati, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
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School students take shelter during mock drills amid India Pakistan tension, in Jammu, India, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)
Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Response Force and Civil Defence personnel participate in a mock security drill on the outskirts of Prayagraj, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India’s strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Response Force and Civil Defence personnel participate in a mock security drill on the outskirts of Prayagraj, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India’s strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
School students take shelter during mock drills amid India Pakistan tension, in Jammu, India, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)
School students take shelter during mock drills amid India Pakistan tension, in Jammu, India, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)
School students take shelter during mock drills amid India Pakistan tension, in Jammu, India, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)
Indian civil defense volunteers and police participate in a mock security drill at a school in Prayagraj, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India’s strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
National Disaster Response Force team members carry out a mock drill in a market to train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of attack, in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
People watch a security mock drill at a mall in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Two men watch a security mock drill at a mall in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Civil defense members carry out a mock drill at a metro station to train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of attack, in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Fire brigade workers and paramedics participate in a security mock drill at a mall in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Civil Defense Services, National Disaster Response Force NDRF and Mumbai Fire Brigade workers take part in a mock drill in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
Civil Defense Services, National Disaster Response Force NDRF and Mumbai Fire Brigade workers take part in a mock drill in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
Civil Defense Services, National Disaster Response Force NDRF and Mumbai Fire Brigade workers take part in a mock drill in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
National Cadet Corps members participate during a mock drill to train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of attack, in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
National Cadet Corps members participate during a mock drill to train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of attack, in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
School students react during a mock drill to train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of attack, in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Civil defense and railway police carry out a mock drill at Kachiguda railway station to train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of attack in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
National Cadet Corps members participate during a mock drill to train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of attack, in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Officals take part in a drill to train civilians in case of attack in Prayagraj, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Officials take part in a drill to train civilians in case of attack in Prayagraj, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
A firefighter participates in a drill to help train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of attack in Prayagraj, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
A blackout is seen during a mock drill to train civilians in case of attack in Prayagraj, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
A blackout is seen during a mock drill to train civilians in case of attack in Prayagraj, India, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Firefighters carry out a mock drill to train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of an attack, in the old quarters of New Delhi, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karma Bhutia)
Firefighters carry out a mock drill to train civilians and security personnel to respond in case of an attack, old quarters of New Delhi, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karma Bhutia)
School students participate in a mock drill trained by civil defence members to respond in case of attack in Guwahati, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
A civil defense official participates in a mock drill to train school students to respond in case of attack in Guwahati, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Civil defense members participate in a mock drill to train school students to respond in case of attack in Guwahati, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
School students participate in a mock drill trained by civil defence members to respond in case of attack in Guwahati, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
School students and teachers participate in a mock drill trained by civil defence members to respond in case of attack in Guwahati, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
School students participate in a mock drill trained by civil defence members to respond in case of attack in Guwahati, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
School students participate in a mock drill trained by civil defence members to respond in case of attack in Guwahati, India, Saturday, May 10, 2025 amid rising fears of wider conflict following India's strikes in Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
High winds drove a wildfire into an eastern Washington neighborhood, forcing the evacuation of about 1,500 people and destroying at least 15 homes, officials said Wednesday.
The Spokane County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday that its forensic unit found what appeared to be human remains inside a home destroyed in the fire. A family member had requested a wellness check at the home because one of the residents had refused to evacuate and could not be reached, officials said in a news release. They were working to confirm whether authorities found human remains, and if so, identify who they were and how they died.
Authorities have not reported any injuries.
Many people living in the densely populated neighborhoods had to flee on a moment's notice — sometimes after an officer knocked on their door — leaving behind belongings and in some cases, critical medications, Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said during a news conference.
People were being escorted Wednesday by an officer to their homes one-by-one to access those essential needs, but then they were taken back out, Nowels said.
The evacuation order for the 1,500 residents remained in effect Wednesday, said Chandra Fox, deputy director for Spokane County Emergency Management.
“Our concern is for increased winds Wednesday afternoon,” Fox said.
The blaze started just after noon on Tuesday and quickly moved up a hill, said fire district spokesman Robert Gray. Winds then shifted, sending flames into a neighborhood, Gray said. Spokane is about 280 miles (450 kilometers) east of Seattle near the border with Idaho.
John Leavell, battalion chief with the Spokane Valley Fire Department, was one of the first people to spot the fire. He said he was driving near Interstate 90 when he saw a column of smoke.
“As I approached it, I thought this is going to be a big event — this is going fast,” he said. “It looked like waves of fire going up the hill.”
He pulled into a driveway and found a house fully engulfed in flames, so he contacted surrounding agencies and the local fire district took over while his crew started building fire lines, he said. Leavell said he didn't know if they fire began at the house or quickly consumed it. The cause is still under investigation.
Fire crews from Washington state and Idaho attacked the fire from the ground and air, but it quickly grew to 225 acres (.35 square miles). It was 10% contained Wednesday morning, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Avista turned off power for the area as the fire progressed for the safety of firefighters. It remained off Wednesday in some areas.
The weather was working in the firefighters’ favor.
Winds were lighter on Wednesday and were expected to decrease after sunset, according to Rachael Fewkes, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Spokane. The temperature also dropped a few degrees from the mid-80s on Tuesday to a high of 80 on Wednesday, she said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Wednesday that they authorized the use of Fire Management Assistance Grant funds to help with firefighting costs for the Spokane blaze. The regional FEMA director said the fire had the potential to constitute a major disaster. Besides threatening homes, it also threatened a school, power lines, parks, businesses and wildlife.
FEMA said this was the first fire grant awarded this season to fight a Washington wildfire.
More than 32,000 fires have burned more than 3,900 square miles (10,100 square kilometers) so far this year in the United States, according to the fire center, which coordinates the mobilization of large-scale firefighting efforts.
That’s significantly higher than the 10-year average of just under 24,000 fires burning about 2,200 square miles (5,700 square kilometers) by early June, according to the fire center, even though fire activity has been relatively light in recent weeks.
Weather and fuel models that predict conditions like wind, lightning and how likely plants and other materials are to burn also show an increased danger of fires in multiple areas across the U.S. in coming weeks, according to the fire center. Some regions with critical conditions for fire include portions of California, and the Southwest, Great Basin and Rocky Mountain areas.
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Bellisle reported from Seattle. Associated Press journalists Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho, and Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed reporting.
Fire crews battle the Upriver Fire on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 east of Spokane, Wash. (Spokane Valley Fire Department via AP)
Fire crews battle the Upriver Fire on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, east of Spokane, Wash. (Spokane Valley Fire Department via AP)
This photo provided by Spokane Fire District 9 shows smoke rising from the Upriver Fire burning northeast of Spokane, Wash., on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (Robert Gray/Spokane Fire District 9 via AP)
This photo provided by Spokane Fire District 9 shows the Upriver Fire burning northeast of Spokane, Wash., on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (Robert Gray/Spokane Fire District 9 via AP)