Thousands Flee Wildfires in Washington State

A fast-moving wildfire driven by strong winds and high temperatures in Washington swept across northwest Spokane on Saturday before jumping the Spokane River and prompting the evacuation of thousands of people. The Old Trails Fire started around noon, burning brush and grass in an open area, but quickly spread north and east toward residential areas. Cars lined the roads as people fled their homes, and orange and red flames were visible from the highway. The blaze sent a plume of smoke billowing over the region, the AP reports, and as of evening almost 4 square miles of terrain had been burned, said Courtney James of the state Department of Natural Resources.

Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency Saturday after unusually high temperatures and high winds exacerbated record wildfires across the state. The cause was under investigation. "We urge residents of Spokane to heed evacuation orders and to stay alert to changing conditions and evacuations as they are rapidly changing," James said. Power company Avista said it implemented public safety shutoffs in the area due to elevated fire risk.