Washington state wildfires force 60,000 people to evacuate homes
Wildfires in Washington state have forced 60,000 people to evacuate and destroyed hundreds of buildings. Officials have declared a state of emergency as dry conditions and strong winds continue to fuel the blazes.
Why it matters
The disaster highlights the increasing frequency of extreme weather events linked to climate change and the strain on emergency infrastructure.
Figure caption, Over 60,000 evacuated from wildfire danger, says Spokane mayor Lisa Brown
Wildfires have forced around 60,000 people to evacuate parts of Washington state, destroying hundreds of buildings and leaving thousands without power.
Three major blazes continued to burn around the city of Spokane on Monday, with officials warning that the fires had not been contained.
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown described the situation as "the worst natural disaster our region has faced", adding that authorities were assessing the extent of the damage and were "still discussing the potential for lives to be lost".
No deaths or injuries have been confirmed.
The fires in Spokane are among a total number of 16 wildfires - burning across 250,000 acres - in wider Washington, the state's department of natural resources confirmed.
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