Fires cause evacuations and power outages in Washington state

Wildfires have scorched over 1,000 square kilometers in Washington state, forcing residents to evacuate and leading to widespread power outages. State authorities reported Saturday evening that the fires are particularly affecting the area around Spokane in eastern Washington.

Dave Upthegrove, Washington's Commissioner of Public Lands, stated at a virtual press conference that more than 4,000 individuals are engaged in battling over a dozen wildfires across the state. Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide state of emergency Saturday morning, implementing a burn ban.

Authorities have reported no injuries or fatalities related to the fires. However, in Spokane, a city of approximately 230,000 residents, one fire covers about 12 square kilometers and threatens 4,000 buildings, according to Washington's forest chief, George Geissler. Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown confirmed that several major facilities, including a water treatment plant and a hospital, have been evacuated.

Around 200 homes had been evacuated by 3:30 p.m. Saturday, with the number expected to rise. "Large parts of the city are involved, so I expect the number to be higher," Brown said. Power utility Avista reported that 60,000 people lost electricity due to the fires.

"Our state is facing a very serious situation with multiple wildfires," Governor Ferguson previously stated, noting that strong winds and high temperatures are complicating firefighting efforts. The National Guard and firefighters from over a dozen states are participating in the response.

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Our state is facing a very serious situation with multiple wildfires.