Large numbers of residents in Spokane, Washington have been instructed to evacuate urgently due to rapidly spreading wildfires. The city faces threats from three significant fires in the vicinity, particularly the Old Trails Fire.
The Old Trails Fire began on Saturday and has burned over 3,500 acres by Sunday morning, according to the Watch Duty app.
Parts of Spokane are under Level 3 evacuation orders, prompting immediate evacuation notices. The Washington National Guard mobilized late Saturday night to support local responders. “Thirty members are available tonight for Spokane,” stated their Facebook post.
Washington’s Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide wildfire emergency and plans to visit Spokane. He urged residents to follow directions from emergency personnel amid strong winds and low humidity driving the fires.
Reporter Perspective:
Public safety reporter Alexandra Duggan described witnessing a wall of flames and thick smoke near an elementary school. She works for The Spokesman-Review, a daily newspaper in Spokane.
The Old Trails Fire threatens around 5,000 structures and has reached Riverside State Park, northwest of Spokane. Consequently, the city opened its convention center to shelter evacuees. Spokane’s population exceeds 230,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Fires Across Washington
Maps indicated many fires burning statewide as of Sunday morning. Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove reported that firefighters are addressing ten major fires across Washington. A record-setting statewide drought prompted a burn ban prohibiting most outdoor fires, including bonfires and campfires without structures.
Governor Bob Ferguson warned of dangerous conditions due to drought and high winds. Power outages affected nearly 11,000 customers in Washington by Sunday morning, with Spokane County experiencing over 8,000 outages.
Washington has seen over 1,000 fires burn approximately 425,000 acres this year, marking a busy wildfire season, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Upthegrove highlighted the strain on firefighters and urged caution to prevent new fires.
Northwest Public Broadcasting’s Anna King and Doug Nadvornick from Spokane Public Radio contributed to this report.
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