Fast-moving wildfires in Washington state prompt evacuations
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Fast-moving wildfires in eastern Washington, including the Old Trails Fire, have destroyed around 600 buildings and forced thousands to evacuate near Spokane, with no reported deaths so far.
- The Old Trails Fire, along with the Fairview and Autumn Lane Fires, has burned nearly 8.2 square miles, prompting air quality warnings and public safety power shutoffs due to elevated fire risk.
- Firefighters have reported zero containment as of Sunday afternoon, facing challenges from strong winds, steep terrain, and rising temperatures that exacerbate fire spread.
- Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency and is coordinating with federal officials, including President Trump and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, to secure additional federal assistance.
- The Spokane area's geography, with steep canyons and the Spokane River, channels winds that intensify the fires, complicating firefighting efforts and evacuation procedures.
