Olympia, Aug. 2 -- Washington Governor Bob Ferguson on Friday declared a statewide wildfire emergency and imposed a burn ban through September 30 as record drought, extreme heat and high winds fuel one of the state's worst fire seasons in recent years.

The order prohibits most outdoor and agricultural burning, including yard debris burning, trash disposal, land clearing, weed abatement, bonfires and campfires not contained within designated fire rings or fire pits.

According to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), more than 1,000 wildfires have burned approximately 425,000 acres this year, the largest area scorched since 2021.

More than 200,000 acres are currently burning across 12 major wildfires, as the state e...