Washington wildfires: Man suspected of starting devastating blaze arrested
A 37-year-old man suspected of starting one of several wildfires that have ravaged communities around Spokane in Washington state was arrested on Monday. The blazes
A 37-year-old man suspected of starting one of several wildfires that have ravaged communities around Spokane in Washington state was arrested on Monday. The blazes have destroyed more than 700 buildings and forced about 67,000 people to flee their homes, authorities said.Spokane County sheriff’s office said man named Aaron F. Farinacci was arrested and booked on suspicion of first degree arson in connection with the Old Trails fire. He is being held on a $1 million bond.The arrest came as firefighters battled multiple wildfires around Spokane for a third day, with the blazes spreading across a dry landscape and leaving widespread destruction in their wake.
No deaths or major injuries have been reported so far, but the wildfires have destroyed homes, cars and personal belongings, leaving hundreds of residents to return to properties reduced to ashes.US authorities said the fires had burned about 12.5 square miles (32 square kilometres), while more than 1,000 firefighters, including crews from outside Washington, were working to contain them. Fire officials said the Spokane-area fires remained completely uncontained.The sheriff’s office said it had initially received nearly 300 reports of missing people amid the evacuations. Corporal Mark Gregory told news agency AP, that all but 14 had been cleared by Monday, with authorities indicating that the remaining cases were more likely people who had not made contact after leaving their homes.The arrest came as residents began returning to neighbourhoods to assess the damage.
Some found their homes completely destroyed, with only chimneys left standing.A tip from a local resident helped investigators identify Farinacci after the witness reported seeing a 'nervous-looking man' crouching beside a road near grass. Farinacci was initially questioned but released as authorities continued examining the incident.Major crimes detectives later reviewed body-worn camera footage and police reports, leading them back to Farinacci, Sheriff John Nowels told AP. Investigators determined that the Old Trails Fire had started at the same location where the witness had spotted him. Farinacci was carrying matches and a butane lighter when authorities detained him, the sheriff said.Farinacci's first court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, according to Spokane County prosecutor Preston McCollam.
It was not immediately clear whether he had a lawyer. Farinacci has previously been convicted of felony manslaughter in Arizona.The Spokane fires are part of a wider wildfire outbreak across the western US. Washington has seen about 390 square miles (1,000 square kilometres) burn amid severe drought and limited snowpack.
The BriefWire