Washington wildfires force evacuations and damage hundreds of structures in Spokane
Three major fires near Spokane have destroyed about 600 buildings, left thousands without power and prompted a statewide emergency declaration.
Three large wildfires continued to burn around Spokane on Monday, with officials saying the blazes remain uncontained. The fires are part of more than a dozen wildfires across Washington, including ten classified as large by the state Department of Natural Resources. The National Weather Service had warned of "extremely critical" fire weather over the weekend, citing strong winds and unusually dry conditions that accelerated the spread of flames.
Helicopters were seen battling the fires as smoke plumes rose over residential areas. About 600 structures, including homes and businesses, have been destroyed, and over 10,000 electricity customers have lost power, according to Avista Utilities.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency and said he had requested federal assistance after discussions with the U.S. president.
"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," Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown told BBC News. She added that while first responders are working around the clock, additional help is needed to address the scale of displacement, housing shortages and essential supply needs.