Massive wildfires sweeping across Washington state have forced tens of thousands of people to flee, with officials warning the crisis is far from over as flames continue to spread.
Around 60,000 people have been ordered to evacuate parts of Washington state after fast-moving wildfires tore through communities, destroying hundreds of homes and businesses and leaving thousands without electricity.
Three major fires were still burning around the city of Spokane on Monday, with emergency officials saying none of the blazes had been contained. Authorities are continuing to assess the damage, while fears remain that casualties could still be discovered.
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown described the fires as the worst disaster the region has experienced.
“This is the worst natural disaster our region has faced,” Brown said, adding that officials were “still discussing the potential for lives to be lost.”
So far, no deaths or injuries have been confirmed.
Washington’s Department of Natural Resources said 16 large wildfires were burning across the state on Monday. Strong winds, hot temperatures and unusually dry conditions allowed the fires to spread rapidly over the weekend, prompting widespread evacuation orders.
Videos shared from Spokane showed towering walls of smoke rising above neighbourhoods as flames swept close to homes. Helicopters and firefighting crews continued battling the fires from the air and on the ground.
Officials said about 600 buildings, including homes and businesses, have been destroyed, while more than 10,000 electricity customers remain without power.
Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency and said he had requested federal assistance after speaking with President Donald Trump.
Mayor Brown urged residents to follow evacuation instructions without delay.
“The most important thing is that people need to remain vigilant and be patient and comply when we ask them to be ready to evacuate or when we say it’s time to evacuate,” she said.
She also appealed for more support, saying emergency responders were working around the clock, but additional help was needed to shelter displaced families and provide essential supplies.
Although winds are expected to ease temporarily, forecasters warn that hotter temperatures later this week could make firefighting efforts even more difficult.
