Washington Wildfires: Massive blazes force evacuations, power cuts across the state | See pictures
Spokane is among the worst-hit areas as Washington wildfires force evacuations, leave thousands without power and stretch firefighting efforts across …
1/8Washington battles massive wildfires: Wildfires have spread across more than 250,000 acres in Washington state, triggering evacuations, power outages and emergency response efforts. Officials are battling multiple large fires as strong winds and high temperatures fuel the blaze. (Image: Reuters)
2/8Statewide emergency declared: According to Reuters, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency and imposed a burn ban. Officials said no fire-related injuries or deaths had been reported at the time of the announcement. (Image: AP)
3/8Thousands of firefighters deployed: Around 4,000 firefighters are working to control more than a dozen wildfires across the state. Fire crews from over a dozen US states, along with the National Guard, have joined the response. (Image: Reuters)
4/8Spokane faces a growing threat: The Old Trails Fire near Spokane has burned about 3,000 acres and threatens nearly 4,000 structures. The city, home to around 230,000 people, remains one of the worst-hit areas. (Image: AP)
5/8Evacuations and power cuts: Authorities have evacuated about 200 homes in Spokane, with more evacuations expected. Reuters reported that nearly 60,000 electricity customers in eastern Washington were left without power. (Image: Reuters)
6/8Key facilities evacuated: Spokane officials evacuated several major facilities, including water treatment plants, a waste-to-energy facility and a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital as the wildfire danger increased. (Image: AP)
7/8Biggest fire crosses 134,000 acres: The Kaiser Canyon Fire in northeastern Washington is the state’s largest active wildfire, covering about 134,000 acres. Officials said it is one of five major wildfire complexes burning across the state. (Image: AP)
8/8A difficult wildfire season: State officials said about 450,000 acres have burned in Washington this summer. High temperatures and strong winds are expected to make firefighting efforts challenging, while nearby British Columbia has also experienced major wildfire activity following thousands of lightning strikes. (Image: AP)