Town of Malden “essentially gone,” burned in wildfire

MALDEN, WA – The Whitman County Sheriff reported Tuesday that the small eastern Washington town of Malden lost 70% of its homes, as well as its City Hall and post office, to the fires that continue to plague Washington State.

According to KIMA, no one in the town of 300 people was injured. The Cold Spring Canyon Fire started near the Colville Tribal Reservation and has spread to small towns like Malden. It is now threatening Mansfield and 100 nearby homes.

I-90 and Highway 2 are closed in that area due to the fires, and officials recommend sheltering in place to avoid coming into contact with harmful smoke.

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