Wildfires Force Evacuations, Power Outages in Washington State

Wildfires burning across more than 100,000 hectares in Washington state, US, have triggered widespread evacuations and power outages around the city of Spokane, state officials said on Saturday.

Large parts of Spokane County were placed under the highest Level 3 evacuation order as strong winds drove flames into residential areas. Officials urged residents to leave immediately “due to the life-threatening conditions,” while an evacuation shelter was opened at a local community college.

The largest blaze, the Old Trails Fire, ignited around noon and had burned more than 1,000 hectares by late afternoon, according to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The fire spread rapidly through brush and grass into residential neighborhoods.

Videos circulating on social media showed burning homes, towering plumes of smoke, and orange skies as long lines of vehicles fled the area.

Washington State Forester George Geissler said the blaze threatened about 4,000 structures.

Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown said around 200 homes had been evacuated by mid-afternoon, along with several major facilities, including water reclamation plants, a waste-to-energy facility, and a local hospital.

Officials reported no injuries or fatalities as of Saturday evening, while the local utility company, Avista, said around 60,000 customers were without electricity.

Some buildings have been destroyed, although officials have yet to determine the full extent of the damage.

Firefighters had zero containment by Saturday evening, as strong winds continued to fuel the blaze, DNR spokesperson Jessica Watson said.

Washington is enduring one of its worst wildfire seasons in years, driven by prolonged drought and extreme heat. More than 1,000 fires have already burned about 172,000 hectares this year – the largest area scorched since 2021 – according to the DNR.

More than a dozen active wildfires remain burning across more than 100,000 hectares in the state, most in sparsely populated areas. The largest, the Kaiser Canyon Fire in northeastern Washington, has already consumed about 54,000 hectares.

Around 4,000 firefighters are battling the blazes, Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove said during a virtual press conference.

“This year has already been one of our busiest wildfire years on record, and we just started August,” Upthegrove said. “Our firefighters are already stretched thin [and] any new spark on our tinder dry landscapes can lead to another devastating wildfire. I’m urging all Washingtonians to not be that spark.”

Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide state of emergency. The order includes a statewide ban on most outdoor and agricultural burning through September 30, covering yard debris burning, bonfires, and campfires outside designated fire rings.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service issued its highest-level fire weather alert for large parts of eastern Washington and northeastern Oregon on Sunday – a ‘particularly dangerous situation’ Red Flag Warning – marking the first time such a warning has been issued in Washington state. Forecasters warned that a strong cold front, combined with hot, dry, and windy conditions, would create extreme fire weather and the potential for rapid fire spread.