Benton County, Wash., where the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site is located, is one of five counties in the state added this week to Gov. Bob Ferguson’s (D) wildfire emergency proclamation.
The others are Columbia, Grant, Kittitas, and Whitman counties, according to Ferguson’s Aug. 31 press release. Altogether 12 counties and three tribal nations are covered by the governor’s emergency proclamation.
The emergency proclamation makes affected people eligible for assistance with food, temporary shelter and other expenses. Ferguson first declared a wildfire emergency on Aug. 1.
“Wildfires have destroyed Washingtonians’ homes across a broad geographic area,” Ferguson said. “We remain laser-focused on assisting Washingtonians who have lost so much. My emergency proclamation extends important protections and expands eligibility to ensure everyone impacted can seek the help they need.”