In brief
Spokane, Washington’s largest wildfire, the Old Trails blaze, prompted a city‑wide evacuation of more than 60,000 residents amid three raging fires. Police arrested Aaron Farinacci, 37, on suspicion of first‑degree arson after evidence of matches and a lighter was found near the scene. More than 700 structures were destroyed, and a 1‑million‑dollar bond was posted. State leaders warned of a worsening fire season, while officials urged residents to stay away from outdoor fires.
Three massive blazes have lit up the outskirts of Spokane, Washington, turning the city’s skyline into an inferno and forcing the evacuation of more than 60,000 residents this weekend.
Police say Aaron Farinacci, a 37‑year‑old local, was spotted kneeling near grass at the Old Trails fire site and has been arrested on first‑degree arson charges. The suspect was found in possession of matches and a lighter, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Department.
Fire crews are still battling the flames, having managed to bring two of the three fires under control but still struggling against the third. The Old Trails blaze has already destroyed roughly 700 buildings and scorched thousands of acres of land.
Washington governor Bob Ferguson called the situation a “nightmare” and highlighted it as one of the worst natural disasters in Spokane’s history. Mayor Lisa Brown warned that lives could still be lost and that it remains too early to know when residents can return home.
So far, no deaths or injuries have been reported. Authorities are trying to contact 14 people who could not be reached by mobile phone, but are not yet considered missing.
Spokane firefighters, numbering over 900, have been assigned to the fight, with reinforcements expected from other states as the state’s heatwave threatens to intensify.
Experts say human‑induced climate change has made the dry, warm conditions that fuel wildfires more likely, pushing the region toward more frequent and stronger fires.
