About 4,000 people fought more than a dozen fires across the state, state lands commissioner Dave Upthegrove said at a press conference.
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Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency and a ban on campfires on Saturday. Officials reported that there are currently no known casualties related to the fires.
Spokane, home to about 230,000 residents in eastern Washington, is facing the so-called “Old Trails” fire. Washington state forester George Geissler reported that the fire is actively spreading over 3,000 acres and threatens 4,000 structures, Reuters reports.
People have been evacuated from some key Spokane facilities, Mayor Lisa Brown said – among the mentioned buildings are water treatment plants, a waste-to-energy plant, and a Veterans Affairs hospital.
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“This is abnormal”
Utility company Avista, serving eastern Washington, reported that 60,000 people lost power, said Washington State Emergency Management Department spokesperson Stacey McClain.
“Our state is facing a very serious situation – several fires are burning,” said B. Ferguson, noting that strong winds and high temperatures throughout the weekend will complicate firefighting efforts.
About 450,000 acres have burned in Washington state this summer, said D. Upthegrove. “This is abnormal. … We are seeing raging fires across the entire state of Washington,” he said.
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