Washington state wildfires cause 60,000 people to evacuate homes

The fires have destroyed around 700 buildings, including homes, businesses and other buildings.

More than 10,000 electricity customers were left without power on Sunday, according to Avista Utilities. By Monday, around half of them had their power restored.

Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide emergency and requested federal assistance after speaking with US President Donald Trump.

Reuters

The three fires around Spokane — Old Trails, Fairview and Autumn Lane — have been together named the Spokane Complex Fires. Fuelled by high winds, the fire jumped over the Spokane River at least twice, officials say.

At a news conference on Monday, one official said the burned area looks like a “war zone”.

Maj Gen Gent Welsh, who commands the state’s National Guard, said the scene reminded him of his time serving in the US military in Iraq.

“I can tell you today that that’s a war zone,” he said. “When you finally get in there, and you finally look at the devastation and the damage.”