Local officials ordered about 60,000 people to evacuate as wildfires advanced toward the city of Spokane in Washington state, authorities said on Sunday. Firefighters reported the regional blazes had already destroyed 600 buildings, a tally that includes both homes and commercial properties.
The largest local incident, identified as the Spokane Area Fire, comprises three distinct blazes. Spokane Fire Chief Tom Williams said the complex of fires was threatening the zones where evacuation orders had been issued. Federal incident management teams estimated the fires had burned 5,390 acres (2,180 hectares) by Sunday.
Williams confirmed that the fires had not yet been contained as of the Sunday status update. At an afternoon news briefing, officials reported no injuries or fatalities linked to the blazes to that point.
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown described the situation as "the worst natural disaster our region has faced." The mayor's characterization reflected the scope of destruction reported by local authorities, particularly the damage to residences and businesses within the fire's path.
Utility impacts were already being felt across the area. Avista Utilities CEO Heather Rosentrader said approximately 10,000 electricity customers in the region were without power as of Sunday afternoon, underscoring immediate disruptions to services for households and enterprises.
Beyond the Spokane area, state officials reported that more than 250,000 acres (101,171 hectares) were burning across Washington state. In response to the escalating statewide emergency, Governor Bob Ferguson said he had spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday and requested assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The governor has declared a statewide emergency.
Authorities continue to manage evacuations, firefighting operations and utility restorations as the fires burn. Officials emphasized that containment had not been achieved and that conditions remained volatile as crews worked to protect threatened communities and critical infrastructure.