Eastern Washington fires have burned 600 structures and forced the evacuation of 60,000 people

Wildfires in eastern Washington state forced the evacuation of 60,000 people in the Spokane area while destroying at least 600 homes, businesses and other structures, authorities said Sunday.The fires in and around Spokane, the state's second largest city, burned about 8.2 square miles (about 21 square kilometers), but they were among dozens across the Western U.S. that stretched the ability of federal, state and local agencies to fight them. A a total of about 390 square miles (1,000 square kilometers) have burned across the state, and some of the fires, including those in the Spokane area, have not been contained.Officials also said that the evacuees in Spokane included patients at its U.S. Veterans Affairs hospital.Video from the Spokane area showed buildings on fire, black smoke billowing up near neighborhoods, and the smoking ruins of homes, with only chimneys still standing. Several officials expressed concern that the area does not appear likely to get a break in coming days fro