The Pacific North-West of the United States is facing a historic wildfire season, with extreme conditions fueling fast-moving blazes. In Washington and Oregon, more than 2.9 million acres have already burned this year. Oregon has surpassed all previous records for burned acreage, while Washington is experiencing its most destructive fire season.
On the eastern side of Washington, a trio of fires has consumed at least 846 structures, leaving areas like the suburbs of Spokane devastated. Fire ecologist Dr. Susan Prichard from the University of Washington stated, "We are living through climate change and it’s accelerating."
Across the US, firefighters were battling 95 large blazes on Friday, with over 6.3 million acres burned since the start of the year, according to the US National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). The NIFC also reports that increased significant fire potential is expected to continue through September, with below-normal precipitation forecast into November.
The climate phenomenon El Niño, which could become the strongest ever recorded, is predicted to increase fire risks through the end of the year, particularly in the Pacific North-West. Former Washington governor Jay Inslee commented, "It’s unprecedented, dangerous territory – Washington state has never been so exposed to multiple losses."