Washington State Wildfire Explodes Within Hours, Forcing Thousands to Evacuate

An undated file image of firefighters conducting a controlled burn to battle wildfires in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Courtesy of USFS

A wildfire in Washington state expanded within hours on Sunday, breaking containment lines and forcing thousands of people to evacuate surrounding areas.

The Nakia Creek Fire, which ignited near Vancouver, Washington, on Oct. 9, grew from 150 acres to roughly 2,000 acres, according to officials, prompting mass evacuations and road closures.