Wildfires Drive Evacuation Orders for Washington State Residents

Hundreds of residents north and west of Spokane have been told to flee their homes. Emergency alerts warned residents: 'Leave now! This may be your only notice' and 'must leave now due to life-threatening conditions in your area!' Emergency centers were set up at the Spokane Convention Center. The Fairview fire just north of the city had grown to 981 acres; the larger Old Trails incident had consumed 3,509 acres. 1,038 blazes had burned 426,666 acres statewide; an area roughly half the size of Rhode Island has burned so far this year. More than 17,600 residents were without power early Sunday, including more than 13,400 in Spokane County; power has been shut off to residents around Spokane by Avista to prevent electric equipment from sparking wildfires. Governor Bob Ferguson on Saturday declared a statewide emergency and an outdoor burn ban through September. Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove is quoted: 'we've already hit the fifth largest amount of acres burned this century.' There are currently 10 large fires around Washington; crews from 14 states plus Australia and Washington National Guard troops are fighting the blazes; the region has roughly 600,000 residents.