Spokane wildfire forces thousands to evacuate

A fast-moving wildfire forced thousands of people to evacuate in northern Spokane, Washington, on Saturday as the state declared an emergency during one of its busiest fire seasons on record.

Authorities issued the highest-level “Go Now” evacuation alert for parts of northern Spokane, according to the government evacuation map. Emergency authorities opened a fire evacuation shelter at the Spokane Convention Center.

The Old Trails fire jumped the Spokane River on Saturday afternoon and crossed into the city, the Spokesman-Review reported. The newspaper said the fire had grown to more than 3,500 acres by 8:20 p.m. local time.

City officials did not report any injuries.

Governor Bob Ferguson said record drought and high winds were creating dangerous conditions across Washington. He said most outdoor and agricultural burning would be banned through the end of September.

More than 200,000 acres were burning across the state during a fourth consecutive year of statewide drought. The National Weather Service declared a “particularly dangerous situation” Red Flag Alert for Eastern Washington, and the Washington National Guard said it was rapidly mobilising units to assist Spokane.