Washington Declares State of Emergency as Rare 'Particularly Dangerous' Fire Warning Triggers Mass Evacuations

Washington State has declared a state of emergency after an explosive wildfire outbreak, fuelled by hurricane-force winds and tinder-dry conditions, pushed thousands of residents from their homes and triggered an unprecedented fire warning from US weather authorities.

At the heart of the crisis is the Old Trails Fire in Spokane County, where flames have ripped through nearly 3,000 acres, threatening close to 4,000 structures and prompting mandatory evacuation orders across several neighbourhoods.

Governor Bob Ferguson announced a statewide emergency and burn ban, saying he would travel to Spokane to assess the damage and support emergency responders.

"My thoughts are with the first responders and everyone under evacuation. Please remain vigilant and follow the directions of emergency personnel," Ferguson said in a post on X.

The emergency escalated after the US National Weather Service issued Washington's first-ever "Particularly Dangerous Situation" Red Flag Warning, an alert reserved for the most extreme wildfire conditions. Officials warned that powerful winds, low humidity and dry vegetation could cause new fires to spread rapidly while limiting the ability of aircraft to fight the flames.

Fire officials cautioned that the dangerous conditions were stretching already exhausted firefighting resources and making operations significantly more hazardous.

The situation has forced Level 3 "Go Now" evacuations across parts of Spokane County, with emergency shelters opened for displaced residents. The wildfire has also advanced toward Riverside State Park, while precautionary evacuations have been carried out at key facilities, including a veterans' hospital, a water reclamation plant and a waste-to-energy facility.

Adding to the crisis, the Fairview Fire has ignited elsewhere in the county, further straining emergency resources.

The fires have also disrupted essential services. More than 13,000 customers lost electricity after emergency power shut-offs, while internet outages were reported across affected areas.

Washington National Guard personnel have been deployed to assist with evacuations, traffic management and emergency response.

The Spokane fires are part of a much larger emergency unfolding across the state. Authorities say firefighters are battling 10 major wildfires that have already scorched more than 200,000 acres, with crews from 14 US states and even an Australian firefighting team joining efforts to contain one of Washington's most severe wildfire seasons in recent memory.

(With inputs from ANI)