Authorities in Washington have arrested a man for arson in connection with one of the major wildfires devastating the eastern part of the state, which has destroyed hundreds of homes and forced tens of thousands to flee.
Aaron F. Farinacci, a 37-year-old Spokane resident, was arrested on a single charge of first-degree arson related to the Old Trails Fire, which sprang up on Saturday alongside two other major fires, Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said at a news conference on Monday evening. The causes of the other fires are under investigation.
The fires, which began in the Spokane, Washington, area, have burned more than 10,000 acres and remained 0% contained as of the latest update. About 65,000 people were under evacuation orders Monday, a dramatic increase from the day before as flames spread through residential areas. Hundreds of structures, including homes and businesses, have been destroyed, according to the California Interagency Incident Management Team 7.
Videos from the fire zone showed towering smoke plumes rising above trees and neighborhoods as airplane tankers dropped fire retardant on the fast-moving flames. Footage also showed homes that were left in ruins among burnt trees as the fires burned along wooded ridge lines near residential areas.
About 1,100 firefighters were assigned to the Spokane-area fires on Monday, while more than 29,200 wildfire personnel were deployed nationwide, with resources heavily concentrated across Washington state, Oregon and Idaho, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
Arson Arrest As Spokane Wildfires Force Evacuations, Destroy Homes: Updates
