Los Angeles .- The U.S. government, led by President Donald Trump, declared an emergency this Tuesday to respond to the wildfires affecting the northwest of the country, where more than 65,000 people have been evacuated, about 700 structures have burned, and a large hotel complex has had to close temporarily.
Washington Governor, Democrat Bob Ferguson, confirmed this on Tuesday after having requested federal support to fight the fires that have especially affected Spokane, the second most important city in that state, which is surrounded by three fire fronts.
The declaration allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide support for response efforts, including evacuations, emergency shelters, food and water, search and rescue operations, and other costs related to the response.
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More than 65,000 people in the Spokane area have had to be evacuated, a few have been able to return only to see that they have lost everything.
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The devastation of wildfires in the United States
Authorities have counted about 700 burned structures so far, but it is estimated that the disaster could be of greater proportions due to the three fires that are advancing out of control.
Firefighters have been unable to contain the three fires surrounding the area, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, so mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect in several areas.
Ferguson has deployed members of the Washington National Guard to assist in the emergency. The operation of private drones that could interfere with firefighting efforts or even spread the flames has been prohibited.
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The state police arrested 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci, who was seen acting suspiciously near the origin point of one of the fires affecting Spokane before it started, authorities reported.
Farinacci is allegedly behind the Old Trails fire, which broke out last Saturday and is one of the thirteen major fires currently burning in Washington. He is in custody, with a one-million-dollar bail.
On the other hand, Washington state authorities are also dealing today with their primary elections and their duty to ensure that voters can exercise their right and maintain the integrity of the ballots that were sent by mail.
Oregon and its new record for burned land
The fires also keep authorities in Oregon, a neighbor of Washington, on alert due to the more than 30 fires that are burning this Tuesday.
One of the fires, the so-called Grasshopper, forced the exclusive Mt. Hood Meadows resort to be evacuated.
“We hoped we wouldn’t have to post this, but here we are. As of this morning, Meadows is under a Level 3 evacuation order (‘Go now’),” the company indicated on its X account.
The Oregon Department of Forestry announced this Monday that a new record for burned land has been set with nearly 809,000 hectares devastated, surpassing the one set in 2024 when about 769,000 hectares were consumed by the flames.
Oregon has recorded more than 1,300 wildfires so far this year, with three months of fire season still remaining, and it is currently the state with the most active fires in the country.
