President Barack Obama ordered federal aid to state and local agencies fighting wildfires in Washington that began Aug. 13.

In signing an emergency declaration requested earlier this week by Gov. Jay Inslee, Obama authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief "to save lives and protect prooperty and public health and safety and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe." 

The order covers much of Central and Eastern Washington: Asotin, Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Klikcitat, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Skamania, Spokane, Stevens and Yakima counties; plus the Colville Confederated, Kalispel, Spokane and Yakama reservations.

The federal government will proved 75 percent of the cost of emergency measures, a statement from the White House said. 
Inslee and members of the state congressional delegation said Thursday in Chelan they would press Obama to make a speedy decision on the emergency declaration. 

The state also expects to file a request for a federal disaster declaration later, which would provide federal aid for some property lost in the wildfires. But that process takes longer, and requires extensive data on losses and the amount of insurance coverage in affected areas.

Last year the state's request for a disaster declaration to aid residents and businesses with some costs of the Carlton Complex fire was denied, although the Small Business Administration did approve some low-interest loans.

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