Arson Suspect Arrested as Spokane Wildfires Destroy More Than 700 Buildings

A 37-year-old Spokane man with a prior manslaughter conviction was arrested Monday on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the largest of three wildfires burning near Spokane, Washington. More than 700 buildings have been destroyed and roughly 67,000 people remain under evacuation orders.

Aaron Farinacci was booked on $1 million bond after Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels told a press conference that a witness saw Farinacci kneeling near the grass where the Old Trails Fire began. When deputies detained him, he was carrying waterproof matches and a butane lighter.

"We believe it was matches or a lighter. When he was detained ... he was found to be in possession of some waterproof matches and a butane lighter," Nowels said. He added that Farinacci was only arrested in connection with the Old Trails Fire, not the two other blazes burning in the area.

According to CBS News, Farinacci was previously convicted of manslaughter for killing his father in 2010.

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson described the scale of the destruction in stark terms. "It's a nightmare situation," he said. "This is likely the worst natural disaster in Spokane history." In addition to the more than 700 buildings confirmed destroyed, another 400 structures have yet to be assessed by officials.

The fires began Saturday when a combination of extreme drought, bone-dry brush, high heat, and strong winds created conditions for rapid spread. Firefighters went door to door trying to protect homes but were quickly overwhelmed. As of Monday, no deaths had been reported. However, Sheriff Nowels said there were 14 people authorities had not yet been able to reach.

"These are people who may have called for help or for help evacuating, and many of them likely did get evacuated," he said. "You know, with poor cell phone coverage, people's cell phone batteries die or they get to some place where they do find shelter and we haven't been able to reach them by phone. So, that's the task ... for those 14 people that we haven't been able to talk to."

For many residents, the losses are total. Anna Andreachi, a Spokane resident who lost her home, described what it felt like. "All of our memories are gone," she said. "My dad just died, and all of his stuff was still in there, too."

Not everyone lost their home. Joe Cvancara and his family managed to protect their property by digging a fire line, but at least eight of his neighbors' homes were destroyed. Cvancara said the experience feels like "almost survivor's guilt, in a way. Like, wow. So we're going to open our home to our neighbors. I know it's going to take a long time to rebuild."

The Old Trails Fire and the Fairview Fire were both still burning as of Monday. The primary focus for firefighters shifted to the Autumn Lane Fire. The heat and wind that initially fueled all three blazes had died down by the start of the week.