Jakarta, ThedailyID — Fast-moving wildfires forced thousands of people to evacuate near Spokane, Washington, on Saturday, August 2, as officials declared a state of emergency.
More than 200,000 acres (about 80,900 hectares) have burned across Washington. The state is also enduring its fourth consecutive year of drought.
Governor Bob Ferguson said record-breaking drought and strong winds created extremely dangerous conditions.
“Record-breaking drought and strong winds have created dangerous conditions across the state,” Ferguson said, according to AFP.
He also banned nearly all outdoor burning, including agricultural fires, until the end of September to reduce the risk of new blazes.
Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove said this year’s wildfire season has already become one of the busiest on record, even though August has only just begun.
One of the largest blazes, the Old Trails Fire, crossed the Spokane River on Saturday before reaching the city, local newspaper The Spokesman-Review reported.
Authorities then issued the highest-level “Go Now” evacuation order for several northern Spokane neighborhoods. The order affected thousands of residents.
By 8:20 p.m. local time, the Old Trails Fire had burned more than 3,500 acres (about 1,400 hectares). Officials had not reported any deaths or injuries.
Major General Gent Welsh warned that the disaster would leave a lasting impact on the community.
“When the sun sets and rises again, we’ll be in shock,” Welsh said during a press conference.
Officials opened an evacuation center at the Spokane Convention Center to shelter displaced residents.
Earlier, the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for eastern Washington. The agency described the conditions as a “particularly dangerous situation” because of extreme heat, low humidity, and powerful winds.
The Washington National Guard has also deployed personnel to support firefighting efforts and evacuation operations.
