Story highlights One firefighter in Washington taken to Seattle hospital with severe burns

Washington governor says three firefighters killed, four injured

Failure of a gas water heater causes one of two California wildfires that joined, burned 70K acres

(CNN) Three firefighters have died in a wildfire in north-central Washington, the state's governor, Jay Inslee, said on his website.

Four firefighters were injured, according to the governor.

One of the injured firefighters is in critical condition with severe burns, a spokesman for Harborview Medical Center in Seattle said. Brian Donohue said the 25-year-old man was the only injured firefighter brought to that hospital.

"They gave their lives to protect others. It was their calling, but the loss for their families is immense, and I know the community will come together to support them," Inslee said.

Residents in two nearby small towns were evacuated as a wildfire quickly approached homes and other buildings.