RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide emergency as fast-moving wildfires continue to burn across the state, including a major blaze threatening Spokane, where evacuations and hazardous air quality conditions have prompted a large-scale emergency response.
The most significant fire affecting the Spokane area is the Old Trails Fire, which, according to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), started on Saturday morning, northwest of Spokane and expanded rapidly because of extreme heat, strong winds and exceptionally dry conditions.
The DNR said that by Saturday evening firefighters still had zero containment as wind-driven flames crossed the Spokane River and pushed toward residential neighborhoods.
"We urge residents of Spokane to heed evacuation orders and to stay alert to changing conditions and evacuations as they are rapidly changing," Courtney James, a spokesperson for the DNR, said.
The DNR issued multiple evacuation orders, including Level 3 "Leave Now!" warnings, the highest evacuation category, for neighborhoods northwest of Spokane and around Airway Heights, "due to the life-threatening conditions."
Thousands of residents were ordered to leave as the fire advanced toward homes and critical infrastructure.
The governor's emergency proclamation allows Washington to mobilize additional resources, coordinate statewide wildfire operations, expedite emergency assistance and deploy the National Guard if needed. Ferguson also announced a statewide burn ban through September 30.
"Our record-setting drought and high winds are creating dangerous conditions across the state," Ferguson said while announcing the emergency declaration, adding that he was "declaring an emergency to help prevent loss of life and property damage."
Our record-setting drought and high winds are creating dangerous conditions across the state. I am declaring an emergency to help prevent loss of life and property damage. As part of this declaration, I'm declaring a statewide burn ban. You may have a more restrictive ban…
He also announced he would be visiting the area on Sunday to "meet with responders and monitor the emergency response."
Even residents outside evacuation zones face growing hazards from wildfire smoke.
The National Weather Service (NWS) published an Air Quality Alert, issued by the Washington Department of Ecology, Environmental Protection Agency, and Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency.
The warning covers communities including Spokane, Airway Heights, Cheney, Liberty Lake, Medical Lake, Deer Park, Colville, Newport, Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Omak and Clarkston, among dozens of others.
Officials warned that smoke from active fires in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia could push PM2.5 pollution to unhealthy levels through the weekend, particularly in areas downwind of wildfires.
"Extremely critical fire weather Saturday will produce significant smoke from ongoing and emerging fires," the alert stated.
The warning added that shifting winds could transport smoke into Grant, Lincoln and Spokane counties, potentially causing PM2.5 concentrations to reach "unhealthy levels." Residents were advised to limit outdoor activity, avoid strenuous exercise and improve indoor air quality when possible.
The Spokane-area fire is only one part of a much larger statewide emergency.
State officials said more than a dozen significant fires were burning across Washington as of Saturday, with wildfires affecting over 250,000 acres statewide, according to reporting by Reuters. The largest, the Kaiser Canyon Fire in northeastern Washington, had grown to approximately 134,000 acres.
Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove said roughly 450,000 acres have burned in Washington so far this fire season, describing the situation as unprecedented.
"This is not normal. Throughout the state of Washington, we're seeing fires raging," Upthegrove said.
About 4,000 firefighters have been battling fires across the state, joined by National Guard personnel and crews from multiple states. Emergency managers are urging residents to monitor official evacuation maps and local emergency alerts as conditions continue to change rapidly.
For now, authorities say the combination of active fires, dangerous weather conditions and deteriorating air quality means much of eastern Washington remains under heightened alert as firefighters work to protect communities near Spokane and beyond.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Tobias Meyjes and Tony Phillips
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