Recently, the eastern part of Washington state in the United States has been engulfed by severe wildfires, with three major fires already destroying over 700 buildings and forcing more than 60,000 people to evacuate. Police announced on Monday that a 37-year-old man has been arrested and charged with allegedly starting one of the fires.
According to The Spokesman-Review, the wildfire named “Old Trails” broke out on Saturday afternoon in Spokane County. Witnesses reported to the police that at the beginning of the fire, a man wearing a green shirt and carrying a backpack was seen acting suspiciously near the ignition point on the grass.
Law enforcement initially stopped Aaron F. Farinacci, a local resident of Spokane, who was about a mile away from the fire. However, at that time, they chose to release him to prioritize allowing emergency responders to handle the fire situation.
Subsequently, investigators found traces of matches or a lighter at the ignition point consistent with arson. Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels stated that after finding waterproof matches and a butane lighter on Farinacci, they arrested him on Monday afternoon and set his bail at $1 million.
Nowels added that Farinacci did not have a history of arson but had previously drawn police attention for “fire-related behavior.”
Furthermore, local U.S. media reported that Farinacci was convicted in a deadly shooting case in Arizona in 2010. After his arrest, relatives in Newman Lake refused to be interviewed or provide comments.
The “Old Trails” wildfire is one of the three major fires currently burning in Spokane County, with a total burned area exceeding 10,000 acres, and the fire is still not under control. The causes of the other two fires, “Autumn Lane” and “Fairview,” are still under investigation.
Video footage shows thick smoke engulfing the northern part of Spokane County, with firefighting planes continuously dropping flame retardant from the air. The fire has even consumed forest land just about 10 kilometers from the city center. Fire officials state that the wildfire in the Spokane area is still uncontained, with over a thousand firefighters from various states now involved in the rescue efforts, and manpower expected to double in the coming days.
Ryan Rodruck, a spokesperson for the Washington Department of Natural Resources leading the fire investigation, informed The Spokesman-Review via email that the “Old Trails” wildfire is currently believed to be human-caused, ruling out the possibility of a natural ignition after a thorough investigation process.
Sergeant Mark Gregory, a spokesperson for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, stated that initially, they received nearly 300 reports of missing persons, but as of Monday, only 14 individuals remain to be contacted and confirmed.
With factors like high temperatures, dry conditions, and strong winds contributing to heightened wildfire risks, there are a total of 17 large wildfires burning across various regions of Washington state, covering an area of over 260,000 acres.
Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a state of emergency in Washington and issued an outdoor burn ban while requesting federal assistance.