SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) – A state of emergency has been declared in 20 Eastern Washington counties because of multiple wildfires and scorching hot temperatures coupled with high winds on Wednesday.
The declaration allows state officials to call up the Washington National Guard and the State Guard. It also directs state agencies to help local governments in responding to wildfires.
Washington state officials are worried about extreme fire conditions, including temperatures above 100 degrees and winds forecast at 30 mph in portions of the state east of the Cascade Range. They also worry about a lack of available firefighting resources in the Northwest.
Wildfires were also burning in Idaho and Oregon on Wednesday.
In Oregon, a Klamath County wildfire turned out to be more destructive than authorities initially believed.