SPOKANE, Washington—Authorities arrested a 37-year-old man on Tuesday on suspicion of arson in connection with one of the devastating wildfires that have ravaged the Spokane area, as firefighters continued battling multiple blazes that have destroyed hundreds of structures and forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate.
The Spokane County Sheriff's Office said Aaron Farinacci was arrested and booked on a first-degree arson charge in connection with the Old Trails Fire, one of three major wildfires that erupted over the weekend. Officials said the arrest followed an investigation that included witness accounts alleging the suspect was seen igniting dry grass near a roadside before the fire spread rapidly. The allegations have not been independently verified, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Authorities said Farinacci was being held on $1 million bond. Officials have not announced any additional charges, and no motive has been publicly disclosed. The causes of the other major fires affecting the Spokane area remain under investigation.
The fires have burned more than 10,000 acres, destroyed at least 700 structures and prompted evacuation orders affecting about 64,000 people, according to local authorities. More than 1,100 firefighters are deployed in the area as crews work to contain the blazes amid hot, dry and windy conditions. Officials said no fatalities had been confirmed as of Tuesday but cautioned that damage assessments and searches in affected areas were continuing.
Emergency officials said weather conditions were expected to provide only a limited opportunity for firefighting efforts before hotter and drier conditions return. Authorities said the wildfire response and the criminal investigation remain active, and additional information will be released as it is confirmed.
