Fires engulf Washington, thousands displaced

Authorities in Washington state in the northwestern United States have ordered thousands of residents to evacuate their homes as a wildfire approaches the city of Spokane, while the governor declared a state of emergency.

The governor’s office, in a statement reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP) today, said that 12 large wildfires have consumed more than 80,900 hectares across Washington, marking a record for the fourth consecutive year amid a drought that has gripped the state for four years.

Governor Bob Ferguson noted that the historic drought and strong winds are causing severe impacts across the state. He added that the emergency declaration bans most outdoor burning and agricultural burning until September 30.

Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove said, “This year is already one of the worst wildfire years on record, and we are only in early August.”

The highest level of evacuation alert, “Evacuate Immediately,” has been issued for large areas north of Spokane, encompassing thousands of residents in the city’s suburbs, according to the state’s evacuation map.

Washington borders Canada, which faced a new wildfire season last July that Prime Minister Mark Carney described as “one of the most severe seasons in history,” with three million hectares burned—an area equivalent to the size of Belgium.