Wildfires have forced around 60,000 people to evacuate parts of Washington state, destroying hundreds of buildings and leaving thousands without power. On Monday, three major blazes continued to burn around the city of Spokane, and officials said the fires had not been contained.
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown described the situation as
"the worst natural disaster our region has faced", adding that authorities were assessing the extent of the damage and were
"still discussing the potential for lives to be lost". No deaths or injuries have been confirmed.
How many fires are burning in Washington?
The fires in Spokane are among a total of 16 wildfires burning across 250,000 acres in wider Washington, the state's department of natural resources confirmed. Videos from Spokane - the second most populous city in the state - show huge plumes of smoke and roaring fires close to nearby houses, as helicopters fly above working to put out the flames.
Officials on the ground said the state is facing an especially difficult fire season. David Upthegrove, head of Washington’s department of natural resources, said there were about 15 major blazes burning across the state and that firefighters were being stretched by a combination of weather conditions and fires elsewhere in the west.
He said:
"It’s not a normal season", adding:
"A confluence of weather conditions, a confluence of fires throughout the west, are stretching our resources and challenging the individuals in this response."
Thousands of people have been forced from their homes in the city of Spokane, and the destruction has spread across homes and businesses. The fires have destroyed around 600 buildings, and more than 10,000 electricity customers have been left without power, according to Avista Utilities.
State officials said at least 600 structures have been damaged or destroyed and that none of the fires around Spokane were contained. Emergency shelters have been opened to support some of the people displaced by the evacuations.
The National Weather Service (NWS) had warned of
"extremely critical"fire weather over the weekend, with strong winds and unusually dry conditions helping the flames spread rapidly. It also issued a
"particularly dangerous situation"red-flag alert last week and said eastern Washington was facing extreme weather risk.
Scientists have said that human-induced climate change makes the warm, dry conditions that lead to wildfires more likely - as well as leading to more frequent and intense heatwaves, and potential summer droughts.
How are officials responding?
Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide emergency and told a news conference on Sunday that he had requested federal assistance after speaking to US President Donald Trump.
In his announcement, Ferguson said he had declared a state of emergency on Saturday because drought, unusually high temperatures and high winds were
"exacerbating our record-setting wildfires". He also banned most burning in the state through September.
Speaking to , Mayor Brown said:
"The most important thing is that people need to remain vigilant and be patient and comply when we ask them to be ready to evacuate or when we say it's time to evacuate".
She added:
"Although people are very generous and engaged and our first responders are working around the clock - we need help in order to really meet the magnitude of the displacement and the lack of housing and the need for essential living supplies".
A Spokane resident, Geoff Beadles, who evacuated with his fiancee and dogs, described the scale of the damage as deeply upsetting. He told AFP:
"Driving around looking at the homes – it’s just one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve ever seen in my life".
What happens next?
Although lighter winds are expected on Monday, forecasters have warned temperatures are likely to rise again later in the week. Officials continue to warn that the fires have not been contained, and authorities are assessing the full extent of the damage as evacuations continue.
David Upthegrove said firefighters were already stretched thin across the state and warned that more heat and wind could worsen the danger. He said the state had already been experiencing one of its busiest wildfire years on record before the fires around Spokane intensified.
He added:
"Our firefighters are already stretched thin across the state, and with more heat and wind expected this weekend and for the rest of the summer, any new spark on our tinder dry landscapes can lead to another devastating wildfire."
Key Facts
- Around 60,000 people have evacuated parts of Washington state.
- Three major fires were still burning around Spokane on Monday.
- About 600 buildings have been destroyed and more than 10,000 Avista Utilities customers are without power.
- Washington's department of natural resources said 16 wildfires are burning across 250,000 acres.
- Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency and requested federal assistance.
