As destructive wildfires rage in Washington state, poor air quality and extreme heat continue in West
Devastating wildfires broke out over the weekend across the Spokane, Washington, area due to very strong winds combined with extremely dry conditions.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency authorized on Sunday the use of federal funds to battle several fires, including the Autumn Lane Fire in Spokane County.
As of 11 p.m. on Sunday, that fire, which was still zero percent contained, and two others -- the Old Trails and the Fairview fires -- in nearby counties were burning at about 7,708 acres, according to officials.
"Please continue to stay vigilant if you're in those areas," Gov. Bob Ferguson, who was at a command center in Spokane, said on Sunday.
All three fires ignited on Saturday afternoon and have destroyed or damaged at least 600 structures, including homes, according to authorities. Together, the three fires are being called the Spokane Complex Fire, authorities said on Sunday morning.
Very dangerous air quality is expected on Monday in Spokane due to the widespread dense smoke.
Although fire weather conditions have greatly improved across the Pacific Northwest, poor air quality will continue due to the wildfire smoke across the region and conditions remain very dry. Widespread and very strong wind and extreme fire danger has subsided.
The fire danger has now shifted further east across the Intermountain West and Plains where several states from Montana to Nebraska are under Red Flag Warnings due to strong winds and low humidity. These conditions could easily spark or spread wildfires.
More than two thirds of the West continue to experience drought conditions of varying intensity. In Oregon, more than half of the state is facing severe drought conditions, with roughly 20% of the state currently experiencing an extreme drought.
Wildfires have burned so far this season more than 1.7 million acres in Oregon, mostly in rural areas, with at least 32 uncontained large wildfires currently burning across the state this weekend . In 2024, a record 1.93 million acres burned across the state.
Extreme and record heat continued all weekend across the West. Monday was to be cooler across the Northwest and Northern Rockies, but the heat is expected to continue across the Southwest and Central and Southern Rockies, where numerous extreme heat warnings and heat advisories remain in effect.
Extreme heat warnings remain in place for Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Palm Springs, where the temperatures will be 110 to 115 this week.
Heat advisories continues across much of California, stretching into western Oregon. The extreme heat is over now in the Los Angeles area, although it will still be warm; it will not be as hot as it was over the weekend.
Denver could reach 100 degrees on Monday, which would tie the daily record high before cooler air arrives on Tuesday. Albuquerque could also reach a daily a record high on Monday of 102 degrees, topping the old record of 99.
