State of Emergency

State of Emergency

State of Emergency. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

It has been hot in Eastern Washington. Temperatures have been soaring over 100 for over a week now and that is causing a lot of issues including an emergency declaration for 20 Eastern Washington counties. The Ag Networks David Sparks has more.

SPARKS: The state of emergency was declared in response to multiple wildfires threatening homes, businesses, public infrastructure, and natural resources in many parts of the state as fire crews face continued severe fire weather conditions. Firefighters have been battling multiple fires in eastern Washington, including six that started on Tuesday. The fires are threatening more than 500 homes, resulting in numerous evacuations, and may result in additional damage to other homes, infrastructure, natural resources, and businesses. The proclamation provides for the use the Washington National Guard and the State Guard in the event its resources are needed to protect public health, safety, and welfare; directs state agencies to do “everything reasonably possible” to assist affected local governments in responding and recovering from the fires; and directs staff at the State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate state support activities.

Thanks David. In addition, extreme fire weather conditions and a lack of available firefighting resources in the Pacific Northwest could hamper future firefighting efforts in the state. The National Weather Service posted red flag warnings and fire weather watches for hazardous fire weather conditions that include high temperatures, low humidity, high winds for much of eastern Washington through Friday.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.

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