The United States government has declared a state of emergency to respond to wildfires burning in the northwest, where more than 65,000 people have been evacuated and about 700 structures have been destroyed.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, confirmed the declaration on Tuesday after requesting federal support to fight the fires. The blazes have particularly affected Spokane, Washington's second-largest city, which is surrounded by three separate fire fronts.
What the declaration allows
The declaration allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support response efforts. That includes evacuations, emergency shelters, food and water, search and rescue operations, and other costs related to the response.
