Wildfires in Spokane County Displace Tens of Thousands, Suspect Arrested
More than 65,000 residents were evacuated as wildfires swept Spokane County, Washington, and a 37-year-old man was arrested on first-degree arson charges.
Firefighters and officials said the wildfires that ignited over the weekend have forced the evacuation of over 65,000 people in Spokane County, Washington. The blazes, described by local officials as an "urban conflagration" and likened to a "war zone," have left neighborhoods devastated, with streets reduced to rubble, blackened trees, broken water pipes and lingering hot spots.
On Monday, investigators arrested 37-year-old Aaron F. Farinacci on a charge of first-degree arson in connection with one of the three fires. Spokane County Sheriff John Nowles said investigators saw the suspect kneeling in grass at the suspected ignition point. It was not clear whether Farinacci had legal representation at the time of arrest.
While the fires continue to burn, strong winds that initially drove the flames have subsided, allowing some evacuated residents to return to their homes. No fatalities have been reported so far.