Thousands of people in eastern Washington are under evacuation orders after a series of wildfires broke out on Saturday, spreading rapidly in Spokane County as forecasters predict “very dry conditions” and breezy winds that could potentially exacerbate ongoing blazes.
Washington is facing a destructive fire season, with wildfires burning about 425,000 acres, according to officials.
At least three major fires are burning near Spokane with 0% containment, according to government data: the Fairview Fire northeast of the city, the Autumn Lane Fire and the Old Trails Fire, both located roughly northwest of the city.
The three fires have burned an estimated 5,390 acres in the area so far, Courtney James, a spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, told Forbes.
James said it was too early to determine how many structures were damaged by the fires, and crews were still working to “get a handle on the fires which were exacerbated by extreme weather conditions yesterday.”
