Washington, August 03 (QNA) - US authorities announced that around 60,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes in Spokane County in Washington state in the northwestern United States, while wildfires destroyed 600 homes, businesses, and other structures.

The fires have burned nearly 1,000 square kilometers, with some remaining out of control after overwhelming the firefighting capacity of both Washington State authorities and federal agencies.

Weather experts expect the dry conditions to continue for several more days across the state, diminishing hopes for any near-term relief.

The National Weather Service issued a warning of an extreme heat wave affecting the southern parts of Arizona, California, Nevada, and northern Montana.

The heat wave has also sparked additional wildfires in the neighboring states of Idaho, Oregon, and Utah, where strong winds are helping the flames spread beyond containment lines, prompting the National Weather Service to issue an air quality warning due to worsening smoke conditions. (QNA)