- More than 1,000 firefighters, many from out of state, arrived by Monday, with that number expected to double; at least 390 square miles had burned across Washington amid severe drought and paltry snowpack.
Wildfires in Spokane County, Washington, have wreaked havoc, destroying over 700 structures and forcing 67,000 residents to evacuate. As of Tuesday morning, the fires remain uncontrolled, having burned approximately 16 square miles (about 41 square kilometers).
The Old Trails Fire, the largest of the three blazes, began Saturday northwest of downtown Spokane and quickly spread, jumping the Spokane River and devastating neighborhoods. More than 1,000 firefighters, many from out of state, have been deployed, with numbers expected to double in the coming days as the region grapples with severe drought conditions and a lack of snowpack.12
Authorities arrested Aaron F. Farinacci on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire. A community tip led to his identification after a witness reported seeing a nervous-looking man near the fire's origin. Farinacci, who had matches and a lighter when detained, has a criminal history, including a manslaughter conviction.
Sheriff John Nowels praised the community's vigilance, stating, “As it happens in so many critical cases, it was citizens who were paying attention to their surroundings, being aware and willing to step up and say something that led to the relatively quick apprehension of Mr. Farinacci.” The state has seen at least 390 square miles (1,000 square kilometers) of land burned due to ongoing drought conditions.
“More than 1,000 firefighters, many from out of state, have arrived to combat the wildfires, with that number expected to double soon. At least 390 square miles have burned across Washington, exacerbated by severe drought and low snowpack levels.”
