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More Than a Dozen Wildfires Burn in Washington State, Forcing Evacuations
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Large parts of Spokane County, Washington, including residences and a hospital, were under mandatory Level 3 evacuation orders due to wildfires driven by strong winds reaching up to 45 mph.
- The Old Trails fire, the largest in eastern Washington, grew to about 2,500 acres by late Saturday afternoon, with nearly 3,000 acres burning in total across the region.
- More than a dozen other wildfires were active across Washington, affecting approximately 250,000 acres, mostly in less populated areas.
- Around 4,000 firefighters, National Guard personnel, and support from over a dozen other states were engaged in firefighting efforts statewide.
- Officials reported no injuries or deaths as of Saturday evening, but described the fire season as "extraordinary" and "not normal" due to the severity and scale of the fires.
