{
  "id": 117523,
  "title": "Man charged with setting one of the 3 Spokane area wildfires",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/man-charged-with-setting-one-of-the-3-spokane-area-wildfires",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-04T05:35:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CBS News",
    "slug": "cbs-news",
    "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spokane-washington-wildfires-homes-destroyed/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Monday, Aaron Farinacci, a 37-year-old man from Spokane, Washington, was arrested for allegedly starting one of three devastating wildfires in the area. Farinacci was booked on suspicion of arson and is being held on a $1 million bond. The incident occurred at the Old Trails Fire, which has destroyed over 700 buildings and left hundreds of residents with nothing. Authorities believe Farinacci used matches or a lighter to start the fire, as evidenced by a witness's account and items found on him during his arrest. Farinacci has a prior manslaughter conviction. The fires, fueled by extreme drought, bone-dry brush, high heat, and strong winds, began on Saturday and have forced more than 67,000 people to evacuate. Governor Bob Ferguson called the situation a \"nightmare\" and described it as potentially the worst natural disaster in Spokane history. Firefighters faced challenges due to poor cell phone coverage and depleted batteries, leading to difficulties in tracking down 14 individuals authorities were still trying to reach. While no deaths have been reported yet, the fires have caused immense hardship for those affected, with some residents losing everything, including irreplaceable memories. Firefighters are preparing for a critical period as temperatures are expected to rise into the 90s, making the ongoing efforts to control the fires and help affected communities all the more urgent.",
  "summary": "Wildfires in the Spokane area of Washington state have destroyed over 700 buildings, with possibly another 400 damaged or destroyed, according to officials. The fires, which have burned over 8,000 acres since Saturday, have prompted the evacuation of 64,000 people.\n\nAccording to CBS News, more than 700 buildings in the Spokane area have been destroyed and 400 more haven't been assessed. Daily Maverick reports that at least 700 structures have gone up in flames, most of them in residential areas, and aerial infrared surveys showed that possibly another 400 buildings, including homes, had been damaged or destroyed.\n\nAn arrest has been made in connection with one of the fires, a man charged with setting one of the Spokane area wildfires. No injuries or fatalities have been reported so far. Firefighters have made progress against several blazes, aided by cooler temperatures and higher humidities.",
  "key_points": [
    "Aaron Farinacci, 37, arrested for allegedly starting Old Trails Fire",
    "Fire destroyed over 700 buildings, forcing 67,000 evacuations",
    "Farinacci has prior manslaughter conviction"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Conversation",
        "title": "Why the Spokane wildfires became so catastrophic",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/why-the-spokane-wildfires-became-so-catastrophic",
        "published": "2026-08-03T18:36:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NPR",
        "title": "Photos: Wildfires in Spokane lead to thousands of evacuations",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/photos-wildfires-in-spokane-lead-to-thousands-of-evacuations",
        "published": "2026-08-03T18:45:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Maverick",
        "title": "Wildfires near Spokane destroy more than 700 buildings, force 64,000 to flee",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/wildfires-near-spokane-destroy-more-than-700-buildings-force-64-000",
        "published": "2026-08-04T03:10:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Wildfires near Spokane destroy more than 700 buildings, force 64,000 to flee",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/wildfires-near-spokane-destroy-more-than-700-buildings-force-64-000-119518",
        "published": "2026-08-04T05:06:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Washington wildfires \"likely the worst natural disaster in Spokane's history,\" governor says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/washington-wildfires-likely-the-worst-natural-disaster-in-spokanes",
        "published": "2026-08-04T14:35:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}