WASHINGTON, (Reuters): Wildfires have scorched more than 250,000 acres across Washington state, forcing widespread evacuations, causing major power outages, and prompting Governor Bob Ferguson to declare a statewide emergency.
More than 4,000 firefighters are battling over a dozen active fires across the state, Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove said during a virtual press conference on Saturday.
Authorities said no injuries or fatalities had been reported as of Saturday evening. A statewide burn ban has also been imposed as officials warned that strong winds and high temperatures could worsen conditions over the weekend.
How Have the Fires Affected Spokane and Emergency Response?
The Old Trails Fire, burning across approximately 3,000 acres near Spokane, has emerged as one of the most serious blazes, threatening around 4,000 structures, according to Washington State Forester George Geissler.
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown said several key facilities had been evacuated, including water reclamation plants, a waste-to-energy facility, and the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital.
By Saturday afternoon, around 200 homes had been evacuated, though officials expected the number to increase as the fire spread.
Utility company Avista reported that approximately 60,000 customers in eastern Washington were without electricity due to the fires.
Officials said nearly 450,000 acres have burned across Washington so far this summer, describing the wildfire season as unusually severe.
The largest blaze, the Kaiser Canyon Fire in northeastern Washington, has expanded to approximately 134,000 acres, making it one of five major wildfire complexes currently burning across the state.
Firefighters from more than a dozen U.S. states, supported by the Washington National Guard, have joined local crews in efforts to contain the fires.
The Pacific Northwest has experienced an intense wildfire season this year, with neighbouring British Columbia also battling multiple fires after nearly 34,000 lightning strikes sparked blazes across the region last month.