Wildfires devastate Oregon and Washington in Pacific Northwest

Wildfires in the Pacific Northwest have reached critical levels, with Oregon recording its worst wildfire season on record. The state has seen approximately 809,000 hectares burned, surpassing the previous record of 769,000 hectares set earlier in 2024. Oregon has reported more than 1,300 fires so far this year.

In Washington, Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a state of emergency due to intense fires fueled by high temperatures, low humidity, and wind gusts reaching 80 kilometers per hour. The Spokane area is particularly hard-hit, with over 65,000 people evacuated and more than 700 homes destroyed. The Old Trails Fire has been a significant driver of destruction, threatening critical infrastructure including hospitals and water treatment centers. To prevent further ignition, the utility company Avista implemented preventive power outages affecting roughly 60,000 customers.