Thousands told to evacuate as wildfires worsen in Washington state

A fast-moving wildfire neared the US city of Spokane on Saturday, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate as Washington state declared an emergency over one of its worst fire seasons on record.

More than 200,000 acres (80,900 hectares) were burning across the northwestern state during a record fourth consecutive year of statewide drought.

“Our record-setting drought and high winds are creating dangerous conditions across the state,” Governor Bob Ferguson said in a statement, adding that most outdoor and agricultural burning were banned through the end of September.

“This year has already been one of our busiest wildfire years on record, and we just started August,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove.

A wildfire dubbed the Old Trails fire jumped the Spokane River on Saturday afternoon and crossed into the city, the Spokesman-Review newspaper reported.

Authorities issued the highest-level evacuation alert, “Go Now”, for swathes of northern Spokane affecting thousands of people within city limits, according to the government’s evacuation map.

The fire grew to more than 3,500 acres by 8:20 pm (0320 GMT), according to the Spokesman-Review.

City officials did not report any injuries.

“When the sun sets and the sun rises, we are going to be in shock,” Major General Gent Welsh told a news conference.

Emergency authorities set up a fire evacuation shelter at the Spokane Convention Center.

Earlier in the day, the National Weather Service declared a “particularly dangerous situation” Red Flag Alert, which called the weather risk “extreme” across Eastern Washington.

The Washington National Guard said on X it was “rapidly mobilizing units” to assist Spokane.