Flames rise on a ridge above homes early this morning in Twisp, Wash. Firefighters were trying to protect structures, and most residents were running irrigation sprinklers overnight in hopes of protecting their homes. Officials were urging evacuations in affected areas.

TWISP, Wash. — Three firefighters died after their vehicle crashed and was likely caught by flames as they battled a blaze in Washington state, authorities said. Four other firefighters were injured.

The casualties came Wednesday as firefighters on several fronts fought against raging wildfires advancing on towns in the north-central part of the state.

The accident during the wildfire occurred near the town of Twisp, the National Forest Service said.

“The firefighters were engaged in initial attack operations and were involved in a vehicle accident when it is believed that the fire overtook the vehicle,” the statement from Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest said, relaying information from Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers.

It wasn’t immediately clear if the four injured were also involved in the accident.

The Forest Service statement identified the dead as U.S. Forest Service firefighters. Gov. Jay Inslee requested a federal emergency declaration to provide more help to pay for fighting the many wildfires burning in Washington state.

Officials urged people in the popular outdoor-recreation centers of Twisp and Wintrop, in the scenic Methow River valley about 115 miles northeast of Seattle, to evacuate as a fire near Twisp grew to about 2 square miles.

The Okanogan County Emergency Management department issued the order for the towns, which combined have a population of about 1,300.

A larger group of fires burning to the east covered about 50 square miles and prompted the evacuation of Conconully, home to about 200 people 20 miles northwest of Omak — with further urgent evacuation orders issued Wednesday night for an area south of Conconully to the Omak town line.

To the south, more than 1,100 firefighters were combating a fire that topped 108 square miles and was still threatening the resort town of Chelan.

Angela Seydel, a spokesman for Okanogan Emergency Management, said Wednesday evening that 4,000 homes in the region had been evacuated.

“It is really bad out there. The fires have just exploded,” she said. “We’re just directing everybody to head south.”

A stream of cars poured south out of Twisp as dark smoke clouds loomed; the highway to the north was closed. Some people put sprinklers on their roofs in an effort to protect their homes, and others joined lines for gasoline that were several cars deep.

Drought and heat have combined to make this fire season one of the most active in recent years.