A swiftly advancing wildfire, fueled by intense winds and high temperatures, has led to the evacuation of thousands in eastern Washington.

The Old Trails Fire ignited around midday on Saturday, consuming brush and grass in an open area. Its rapid progression north and eastward reached residential zones.

In Spokane, local authorities declared a state of emergency. Roads were crowded with vehicles as residents left their homes. The flames, visible from the highway, painted the sky in shades of orange and red.

According to officials on Saturday night, several structures and homes were destroyed. The full extent of the damage remains unknown until firefighters gain control over the fire.

Thick smoke covered the region as the fire burned almost 4 square miles (10 square kilometers) by the evening, stated Courtney James, spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

We urge residents of Spokane to heed evacuation orders and to stay alert to changing conditions and evacuations as they are rapidly changing,

said James.

Firefighters reported zero containment by the evening, with wind speeds continuing to pose challenges, according to Jessica Watson, a DNR spokesperson for the fire.

Avista, the local power company, announced public safety shutoffs in the region due to the heightened fire risk.

Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency on Saturday due to the unusually high temperatures and strong winds, which have worsened record-breaking wildfire conditions across the state.

Gov. Ferguson emphasized,

Things are extremely dynamic, especially in Spokane.

The National Weather Service issued a ‘particularly dangerous situation’ red flag alert for eastern Washington.