Around 60,000 people have been evacuated from parts of Washington state after fast-moving wildfires swept through the region, destroying hundreds of buildings and leaving thousands without electricity.
Three major blazes continued to burn around the city of Spokane on Monday, with authorities warning that the fires remain uncontained. Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown described the situation as “the worst natural disaster our region has faced,” adding that officials were still assessing the full extent of the destruction and discussing the possibility of fatalities. No deaths or injuries had been confirmed at the time of reporting.
The Spokane fires are among 16 large, active wildfires burning across Washington state, according to the state’s Department of Natural Resources. The National Weather Service had earlier warned of “extremely critical” fire conditions, with strong winds and exceptionally dry weather fuelling the rapid spread of the flames.
Videos from Spokane showed towering plumes of smoke, flames advancing toward residential areas and firefighting helicopters working to contain the blazes.
Officials said nearly 600 buildings, including homes and businesses, have been destroyed, while more than 10,000 electricity customers remain without power, according to Avista Utilities.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide emergency and said he had sought federal assistance after speaking with US President Donald Trump as firefighting operations continued across the state.
