Escalation: Bob Ferguson Declares Emergency, Bans Outdoor Burning
On Aug. 2, 2026, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide state of emergency and banned most outdoor burning because of extreme wildfire danger.
The move followed days of drought, triple-digit heat under a heat dome, and strong winds that created critical fire weather. The National Weather Service issued a rare, high-level Red Flag Warning, meaning fires can start easily and spread fast.
By this point in the season, more than 1,000 fires had burned over 400,000 acres statewide. In the Spokane area alone, at least 600 structures were reported destroyed.
The order bans most outdoor and agricultural burning across Washington to cut down on human-caused ignitions. The state also mobilized firefighting resources, with a focus on Eastern Washington, and urged residents to be ready for evacuation alerts.
The burn ban is set to run through Sept. 30, 2026. Officials said they will keep monitoring conditions and adjust restrictions as needed.
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