Ashes coat every surface, smoke drifts through the air and a solemn tone of gray paints the Balboa neighborhood of Spokane, Washington.

On Sunday, a large wildfire moved rapidly through eastern Washington, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. As of Tuesday, three devastating wildfires were burning.

(MORE: 'Incredibly scary for so many people': Washington fires burn 600 structures, 60,000 people evacuated)

The impacts of the blaze

Authorities forced the evacuation of 67,000 people in the Spokane area and said at least 700 homes, businesses and other structures have been destroyed. Together, the three fires had burned about 12.5 square miles by Monday.

Officials in Spokane set up a shelter at the city's main convention center, and about 400 people were staying there as of Sunday.

In just the Spokane area, there were three fires: the Old Trails Fire, the Fairview Fire and the Meadowview Fire. But dozens of wildfires across the Western U.S. have stretched the ability of federal, state and local agencies to fight them.

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