(SPOKANE, WA.) — Fires in Spokane, Washington have destroyed more than 700 structures and displaced thousands from their homes.
Photo Credit: Spokane Valley Fire Dept. Instagram
On Tuesday, Governor Bob Ferguson announced a federal emergency declaration for the fires burning in Eastern Washington.
The declaration will unlock assistance for six counties and three Tribal nations to respond to fires.
It will cover Chelan, Ferry, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens and Yakima counties, along with the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and the Spokane Tribe of Indians.
The emergency declaration provides help through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for local agencies and governments while they continue to fight the fires.
A statement Tuesday said that the Governor’s request for aid was granted quickly: “I appreciate the federal government moving quickly and granting our request for this emergency declaration,” Governor Ferguson said. “We are laser-focused on getting assistance to those Washingtonians who have lost so much.”
According to the same statement, Governor Ferguson is already preparing a request for a Major Disaster Declaration, which is the process that unlocks individual assistance to support individuals recovering from a disaster, as well as public assistance to provide funding for repairs of state infrastructure.
The Governor has declared a statewide state of emergency and enacted a statewide burn ban due to drought conditions, unusually high temperatures, and high winds, all exacerbating record-setting wildfires. The declaration includes a statewide prohibition on most outdoor and agricultural burning through September 30, 2026.
The emergency proclamation went into effect ahead of an unprecedented “particularly dangerous situation” Red Flag Alert by the National Weather Service, rating the weather risk today as “extreme” across Eastern Washington.
Photo Credit: ecology.wa.gov
Air quality is also worsening in Washington state because of the smoke from these fires and hot temperatures. Alerts were issued for much of Washington, as temperatures are expected to be in the 90s all week. More information about Air Quality Index and how to stay safe can be found here.
OpGov.News has reached out to local authorities for comment and the latest information and will update with any additional information.
If you would like to comment on this report, please email me at rory.h@lead4earth.org.
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