Thousands of people have been ordered to leave their homes in Washington state as the fast-moving Old Trails Fire burned through nearly 3,000 acres in Spokane County.
Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency and imposed a burn ban on Saturday as officials warned that around 4,000 structures could be threatened by the blaze.
Authorities issued the highest Level 3 evacuation order for several areas of Spokane County, telling residents to “leave now due to the life-threatening conditions”.
An evacuation shelter was opened at a local community college for displaced residents. The fire also prompted evacuations at Spokane’s veterans’ hospital, a water reclamation facility and a waste-to-energy plant.
Ferguson said Spokane was “rapidly moving into a crisis situation” as the National Weather Service issued its first-ever Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning for Central and Eastern Washington.
Our hearts go out to Washingtonians who are losing their homes and being evacuated, the governor said in a statement, according to CNN.
More than 200,000 acres burning across Washington
The Old Trails Fire is part of a wider wildfire emergency across Washington, where more than 200,000 acres are currently burning across 12 large fires.
More than 4,000 firefighters have been deployed to tackle the blazes, according to state officials.
State Forester George Geissler confirmed that the Old Trails Fire had already affected structures, although authorities have yet to establish the full extent of the damage.
Firefighters are dealing with difficult conditions, including low humidity, drought and strong winds that have helped the flames spread rapidly.
Officials warn of potentially extensive damage
Washington National Guard Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh warned that the scale of the damage could become clearer as crews assess the affected areas.
When the sun sets and the sun rises in the morning, I think we’re going to be in shock to see some of the scenes that emerge out of there, Welsh said.
The fire began at around noon on Saturday. Its cause remains under investigation as emergency crews continue working to contain the blaze and protect threatened communities.
