OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire is activating some National Guard units to help fight fires in Eastern Washington in what she labeled “one of the worst fire situations I can recall” during her tenure.

The activation order is part of an emergency proclamation Gregoire signed Thursday. It calls for air support from the Guard to help fight fires;, directs state agencies to do “everything reasonably possible” to help cities, towns and counties respond to fires and recover from them; and calls on the state Emergency Operations Center to coordinate all efforts.

As of late Thursday, fires were threatening more than 500 homes and prompted numerous evacuations, Gregoire said in the emergency proclamation, and resources throughout the state are limited because of firefighting efforts throughout the region.

 

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