Arson Arrest Amid Largest Washington State Wildfire, 60,000 Evacuated

A man was arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the largest wildfire—that has damaged thousands of acres and forced roughly 60,000 people from Spokane, Washington—this week. The blaze, one of three that erupted over the weekend, has left more than 700 buildings destroyed and ignited a huge area of forested land.

Aaron Farinacci, 37, was seen near the Old Trails fire site and later found with matches and a lighter, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. He faces a first‑degree arson charge and is held on a $1 million bond. Prior arrests under the sheriff noted a previous manslaughter conviction for the suspect.

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson called the situation a “nightmare” and said it might be the worst natural disaster in Spokane’s history. The state’s mayor, Lisa Brown, warned that there was still a “potential for lives to be lost” and that residents would need more time to return home.

Firefighters trapped in the city have made some progress against two of the three fires, while cooler temperatures are expected to help on Tuesday. However, rising heat and strong winds forecasted for the rest of the week could ignite new blazes, prompting a statewide ban on outdoor fires. State official Dave Upthegrove urged Washington residents not to spark another wildfire.

More than 900 firefighters have been dispatched to the fire, with additional help expected from other states. Scientists note that human‑induced climate change is making warm, dry conditions that feed wildfires more common, and that the summer may bring more intense heatwaves and potential droughts.