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Washington state wildfires force 60,000 people to evacuate homes

Alicia Curry
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 more than a dozen wildfires in the state including 10 large ones, according to the dashboard on the state's department of natural resources.

The National Weather Service (NWS) had warned of "extremely critical" fire weather over the weekend, with strong winds and unusually dry conditions helping the flames spread rapidly.

Scientists have said that human-induced climate change makes the warm, dry conditions that lead to wildfires more likely - as well as leading to more frequent and intense heatwaves, and potential summer droughts.

News imageReuters A woman dressed in black capris, grey jumper and black trousers wraps her arm around a young boy in black shorts, black top and black trainers, as both survey the damage of a burnt tree and rubble of a buildingReuters
Thousands of people have been forced from their homes in the city of Spokane

Videos from Spokane - the second most populous city in the state - show huge plumes of smoke and roaring fires close to nearby houses, as helicopters fly above working to put out the flames.

The fires have destroyed around 600 buildings, including homes and businesses. More than 10,000 electricity customers have been left without power, according to Avista Utilities.

Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide emergency and told a news conference on Sunday that he had requested federal assistance after speaking to US President Donald Trump.

Watch: Washington state wildfires trigger evacuations

Speaking to BBC News, Mayor Brown said: "The most important thing is that people need to remain vigilant and be patient and comply when we ask them to be ready to evacuate or when we say it's time to evacuate".

She added: "Although people are very generous and engaged and our first responders are working around the clock - we need help in order to really meet the magnitude of the displacement and the lack of housing and the need for essential living supplies".

Although lighter winds are expected on Monday, forecasters have warned temperatures are likely to rise again later in the week.

News imageReuters A woman holds her hand to her head as she looks at the rubble of a house. The bricks of the building are charredReuters
The Washington state governor is calling for federal assistance