Blazes force evacuations, torch buildings in Washington state

Three wildfires in and around Spokane, Wash., scorched over 8,000 acres by Monday afternoon. The fires started over the weekend during windy and dry conditions. Tens of thousands of locals were under evacuation orders Monday, with many more under warnings, according to the Watch Duty fire tracker. Two of the three wildfires were reported as completely uncontained. Officials’ early estimates were that nearly 700 structures, many of them homes, had been destroyed, according to Spokane-based The Spokesman-Review. No deaths or injuries were officially reported as of Monday morning.

The fires were likely the worst natural disaster in the city’s history, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said Monday. Many first responders were continuing to help while evacuated from their homes, he said.

At least 15 major fires were burning across the state on Monday, with over 5,000 firefighters and other first responders at work, according to Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove.

Is the federal government involved? Ferguson said Monday that he was requesting federal assistance from FEMA for disaster relief in six counties and three Native American tribal areas. His request hadn’t yet been formally granted, but President Trump was working with him and FEMA was moving resources into the state to prepare, he said. FEMA approved a separate request for financial support for Spokane-area firefighters.