Wildfires raging in Washington State have consumed over 100,000 hectares (more than a quarter of a million acres), leading to extensive evacuations and power outages in the Spokane area, state officials informed the public.
Approximately 4,000 personnel are currently battling more than a dozen wildfires across the state, according to Dave Upthegrove, the state commissioner for public lands, during an online press briefing.
Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide state of emergency on Saturday morning and imposed a fire ban.
As of now, no casualties or fatalities related to the wildfires have been reported, officials confirmed.
Evacuations Underway
The city of Spokane, with a population of about 230,000 in eastern Washington, is facing the “Old Trails” fire, which, according to George Geissler, chief of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, has spread across 3,000 acres and threatens 4,000 structures.
Key facilities in Spokane have been evacuated, including water treatment stations, a waste processing plant, and the Veterans Affairs hospital, as confirmed by Mayor Lisa Brown.
By 3:30 PM, about 200 homes had been evacuated in Spokane, but authorities anticipated that this figure would rise. “We’re talking about extensive areas of the city, so I expect the number will be greater,” Brown stated.
“State Faces a Very Serious Situation”
Utility provider Avista, serving eastern Washington, reported that 60,000 people were without electricity, according to Stacey McClain from the state’s Emergency Management Division.
“Our state is facing a very serious situation, marked by multiple wildfires,” Ferguson said, emphasizing that strong winds and high temperatures over the weekend will complicate firefighting efforts.
This summer’s wildfires have been a concern in other parts of the Pacific Northwest as well. Nearly 34,000 lightning strikes last month ignited a series of fires and evacuation orders in southern British Columbia.
In addition to the National Guard, firefighters from over a dozen states are providing assistance, officials revealed during the press conference.
“What we are witnessing is a tragedy,” said Major General Gent Welsh, the adjutant general of the Washington National Guard. “When the sun sets and rises each morning, I believe we will be shocked to see some of the scenes that have unfolded there.”
