According to CNN, the counties of Spokane and surrounding areas in Washington state, located in the northwest of the United States, are suffering from three wildfires. More than 700 buildings have been destroyed, and 65,000 people have been asked to evacuate. On the evening of August 3rd, the county sheriff announced that a suspect involved in one of the wildfires had been arrested.
Scooma County Sheriff John Novells reported that the suspect, Aaron Farinacci, 37 years old, a resident of Scooma County, was detained on March 3 on charges of first-degree arson. The bail amount is set at $1 million.
Noveaux said that a witness discovered Farinacci kneeling near the fire site on the 1st. Shortly after, the witness saw thick smoke coming from the area and immediately reported it to the authorities. Noveaux stated that law enforcement officers found Farinacci at the scene and “ detained, questioned him, and eventually released him.” At that time, police found Farinacci carrying a waterproof match and a butane lighter. Investigators then used the video footage captured by the law enforcement recorder to gather evidence, and obtained an arrest warrant on the 3rd.
Farinacci is suspected of igniting grass along the roadside, which led to one of the three wildfires that broke out in Spokane County starting on the 1st. The causes of the other two wildfires are still under investigation.
