EXTREME CLIMATE HAZARDS
INTENSE DROUGHT
HIGH TEMPERATURES
MAJOR LIGHTNING STORMS
DESTRUCTIVE WILDFIRES
MASS EVACUATIONS
STATE OF EMERGENCY
SCENARIOS 797, 111, 101, 03
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Multiple Wildfires Raging in Western US
A state of emergency has been declared in the state of Washington for 20 eastern counties after wildfires burned tens of thousands of acres and dozens of homes and other structures, threatening about 1,000 more homes and forcing mass evacuations.
The emergency proclamation covers Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman and Yakima counties.
The largest fire in the state of Washington is the Mills Canyon Fire, which has consumed about 93km² (23,000 acres) near the town of Entiat, along the Columbia River, as the temperatures soared above 43°C (110 degrees).
“Extreme fire weather conditions and a lack of available firefighting resources in the Pacific Northwest could hamper future firefighting efforts in the state,” said Washington’s Emergency Management Division.
Oregon
In southern Oregon, the Moccasin Hill fire near the town of Sprague River, has consumed about 10km², destroying two dozen homes and other structures since last week.
About a dozen wildfires have been sparked by massive lightning storms. An estimated 15,000 lightning strikes were recorded in Oregon over the weekend.
Idaho
A major wildfire in Idaho has consumed about 130km² near the city of Carey. The blaze was sparked by a lightning strike.
The fires in the drought stricken West are fueled by high winds, soaring temperatures and very low humidity.
Fire Earth 